The knockout stage of the 2026 UEFA Champions League is about to start, as 16 of the 24 groups nonetheless alive will sq. off in a home-and-home sequence (two-legged tie) for the precise to advance to the spherical of 16.
The league part of the European membership championships, with 36 groups enjoying eight video games every, whittled the sphere right down to 24, and the eight groups that did not earn byes drew opponents.
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MADRID, SPAIN – JANUARY 20: Kylian Mbappe of Actual Madrid celebrates scoring his workforce’s first purpose with Vinicius Junior throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Section MD7 match between Actual Madrid C.F. and AS Monaco at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photograph by Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs)
Notably, French Ligue 1 rivals Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain drew one another within the first knockout stage spherical. All knockout-stage first-round video games (successfully a spherical of 32) will likely be on Paramount+.
The place does the UEFA Champions League stand?
The event started in June with 83 groups from 53 member associations (representing nations’ leagues), then performed right down to 36 for the league part that started in September.
After eight video games that have been decided by draw, the highest 24 superior to the knockout stage, with the highest eight getting a bye to the spherical of 16. The opposite 16 then drew for opponents to create eight pairings.
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What’s the format for the knockout stage first spherical
The 16 groups within the first spherical of the knockout stage have been drawn in opposition to opponents primarily based on their positions within the remaining league part standings. They then play a two-legged home-and-home sequence utilizing mixture rating over the 180 minutes.
If the mixture rating is tied after the completion of the second recreation, road-goal tiebreakers are not used. The groups will play half-hour of additional time, then go to penalties if wanted.
What’s the schedule for the primary spherical of the knockout stage?
Opening legs
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Feb. 17
Galatasaray (Turkey) vs. Juventus (Italy), 12:45 p.m., Paramount+ and TUDN, Istanbul, Turkey
Borussia Dortmund (German) vs. Atalanta (Italy), 3 p.m., Paramount+, Dortmund, Germany
Monaco (French league) vs. Paris-Saint Germain (French), 3 p.m., Paramount+ and TUDN, Monaco
Benefica (Portugal) vs. Actual Madrid (Spain), 3 p.m., Paramount+, Lisbon, Portugal
Feb. 18
Qarabag (Azerbaijan) vs. Newcastle United (England), 12:45 p.m., Paramount +, Baku, Azerbaijan
Olympiakos (Greece) vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), 3 p.m., Paramount+, Piraus, Greece
Membership Brugge (Belgium) vs. Athletico Madrid (Spain), 3 p.m., Paramount+, Brugge, Belgium
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Bodø/Glimt (Norway) vs. Inter Milan (Italy), 3 p.m., Paramount+, Bodø, Norway
Return legs
Feb. 24
Atlético Madrid vs. Membership Brugge, 12:45 p.m., Paramount+, Madrid
Inter Milan vs. FK Bodø/Glimt, 3 p.m., Paramount+, Milan, Italy
Newcastle United vs. Qarabağ FK, 3 p.m., Paramount+, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos, 3 p.m., Paramount+, Leverkusen, Germany
Feb. 25
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12:45 p.m., Paramount+, Bergamo, Italy
Actual Madrid vs. Benfica, 3 p.m., Paramount+, Madrid
Juventus vs. Galatasaray, 3 p.m., Paramount+, Turin, Italy
Paris Saint-Germain vs. AS Monaco, 3 p.m., Paramount+, Paris
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What occurs for the spherical of 16?
The eight groups which have byes straight into the spherical of 16 are Barcelona (Spain), Chelsea (England), Liverpool (England), Tottenham (England), Sporting CP (Portugal), Arsenal (England) and Bayern Munich (Germany).
They’ll draw opponents on Feb. 27, and the spherical of 16 will start on March 10 and 11. After the spherical of 16 draw, the event is bracketed by to the finals.
When are the finals?
The finals will likely be Might 30 in Budapest, Hungary.
What’s the schedule for the 2026 UEFA Champions League knockout levels?
Champions League knockout spherical schedule
Playoff spherical
First legs: Feb. 17 and 18
Second legs: Feb 24 and 25
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Spherical of 16
First legs: March 10 and 11
Second legs: March 17 and 18
Quarterfinals
First legs: April 7 and eight
Second legs: April 14 and 15
Semifinals
First legs: April 28 and 29
Remaining
Champions league odds to win
Arsenal +350
Bayern Munich +450
Barcelona +650
Man Metropolis +750
Paris Saint-Germain +750
Ream Madrid +1,000
Liverpool +1,000