UCL Knockout Play-Off Draw 2025/26: Real Madrid, PSG, Newcastle & All Fixtures Explained

The draw for the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League knockout play-off round to determine the remaining eight teams for the Round of 16 took place in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, January 30, 2026. From this stage onwards, teams from the same country can face each other, and teams that have already met in the League Phase can also meet. Teams ranked 9th-16th are seeded, while teams ranked 17th-24th are not. Seeded teams will play the second leg at home. The top eight teams from the League Phase automatically qualify for the Round of 16.

UEFA Champions League League Phase standings after 8 matches.

Teams ranked 9-24 will play in the play-offs to qualify for the knockout round (vying for a place in the Round of 16).
Seeded teams:
9. Real Madrid,
10. Inter Milan
, 11. PSG
, 12. Newcastle, 13.
Juventus, 14.
Atletico Madrid,
15. Atalanta,
16. Bayer Leverkusen.

Not seeded teams:
17. Dortmund
18. Olympiacos
19. Club Brugge
20. Galatasaray
21. Monaco
22. Qarabag
23. Bodø/Glimt
24. Benfica

The road to the UEFA Champions League final 2025-2026

The Champions League knockout play-off draw will proceed as follows:
A. Clubs will be paired according to their rankings at the end of the group stage to create four ranked pairs (clubs ranked 9th and 10th, 11th and 12th, 13th and 14th, and 15th and 16th) and four unranked pairs (clubs ranked 17th and 18th, 19th and 20th, 21st and 22nd, and 23rd and 24th).

B. Each pair of ranked clubs will be drawn into the knockout round to face each unranked club as follows: Ranked 9th or 10th will play against Ranked 23rd or 24th, Ranked 11th or 12th will play against Ranked 21st or 22nd, Ranked 13th or 14th will play against Ranked 19th or 20th, and Ranked 15th or 16th will play against Ranked 17th or 18th.

The draw for the UEFA Champions League play-offs.

The knockout playoff format
will see each club play one match on Tuesday and another on Wednesday, as per protocol.
Round 1: February 17/18, 2026.
Round 2: February 24/25, 2026.

The UEFA Champions League final for the 2025-2026 season will be played on May 30, 2026, in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. 

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