The is approaching the top of the League Section with loads of drama in retailer as the highest eight locations are determined.
The following 16 groups will enter the knockout section’s play-off draw, with the highest eight sides permitted a bye into the final 16.
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That beneficial relaxation, in a packed schedule, might show decisive within the hunt for silverware.
Although Paris Saint-Germain proved it isn’t impediment to successful Europe’s most coveted membership trophy, dismantling Brest within the play-offs earlier than a well-known run to final yr’s remaining and a thumping win over Inter Milan to clinch European glory.
Right here’s all the pieces we all know concerning the Champions League knockout stage’s play-off draw:
When and the place is the Champions League knockout section play-off draw?
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout section play-off draw begins at 11am GMT on Friday, 30 January 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland
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The draw consists of groups that completed ninth to twenty fourth place within the league section, with the highest eight sides within the league section qualifying robotically for the final 16.
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Which groups are within the Champions League knockout section play-off draw?
There shall be 16 groups, to be selected Wednesday, 28 January 2026 after the ultimate spherical of fixtures. Arsenal are assured to complete first or second, whereas Bayern Munich are additionally into the final 16.
All different groups, besides Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, Kairat Almaty, who’ve all been eradicated, can qualify for the highest eight or advance to the play-off draw.
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Liverpool (fourth), Spurs (fifth), Newcastle (seventh) and Chelsea (eighth) are all at present holding an computerized path to the final 16, whereas Man Metropolis (eleventh) should depend on outcomes elsewhere to leap into the highest eight and keep away from the play-offs.
Different groups hoping to maneuver into the highest eight after the ultimate spherical embrace Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
How can I watch the draw?
The draw shall be streamed dwell on Uefa’s web site and the Champions League app, whereas Impartial Sport may have a dwell weblog with all the outcomes from the draw and the most recent response.
How will the Champions League knockout section play-off draw work?
The golf equipment are paired collectively in relation to their league section positions, forming 4 seeded pairs: positions 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16. There shall be 4 unseeded pairs: positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24).
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Golf equipment in every seeded pair will draw a tie in opposition to an unseeded pair: golf equipment 9 or 10 in opposition to golf equipment 23 or 24, golf equipment 11 or 12 in opposition to golf equipment 21 or 22, golf equipment 13 or 14 in opposition to golf equipment 19 or 20, and golf equipment 15 or 16 in opposition to golf equipment 17 or 18.
Groups from the identical nationwide affiliation, or groups which have already met within the league section, can all play in opposition to one another within the knockout section play-offs.
When will the knockout section play-off ties happen?
Matches will happen over two legs, with the seeded crew set to play the return leg at house.
First legs shall be performed on 17-18 February and second legs are slated to happen on 24-25 February.
When is the spherical of 16 draw?
The eight groups that advance from the knockout section play-offs shall be within the draw for the spherical of 16, which is able to happen on Friday, 27 February.