The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout play-offs concluded in dramatic fashion this week, finalizing the field for the Round of 16. In the second season of the “Swiss-style” format, the play-off round served as a brutal filter for teams finishing 9th to 24th in the league phase.
While heavyweights like Real Madrid and PSG navigated the treacherous two-legged ties, others—most notably Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund—saw their European dreams extinguished in high-scoring collapses.
The Survivors: who progressed from the play offs?
Eight teams fought their way through the play-offs to join the eight clubs that had already secured automatic qualification.
| winning Team | Aggregate Score | Opponent Eliminated | key Highlights |
| Newcastle United | 9 – 3 | Qarabağ | A dominant display from Eddie Howe’s Men |
| Atletico de Madrid | 7 – 4 | Club Brugge | Alexander Sorloth second half Hat trick. |
| Galatasaray | 7 – 5 | Juventus | An Extra time thriller featuring Victor Oshimen goal. |
| Bodø | 5 – 2 | Inter Milan | The shock of the round; the first Norwegian side in a K.O win |
| Paris Saint Germain | 5 – 4 | Monaco | A nervy 2 – 2 draw in the second leg was enough |
| Atalanta | 4 – 3 | Borussia Dortmund | A 4 – 1 second leg comeback to stun the Germans |
| Real Madrid | 3 – 1 | Benfica | Methodical clinical finishing from Vinicius Jnr |
| Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 2 – 0 | Olympiacos | Defensive Solidity saw Kasper Hjulmand‘ men go through |
The full Round of 16 Field
The 16 teams remaining are now split into two categories for the upcoming draw: the Seeded (Top 8 from the league phase) and the Unseeded (Play-off winners).
The Seeded Teams (Automatic Qualifiers)
These teams finished in the top 8 of the league phase and will host the second leg of the Round of 16 at home.
- Arsenal (The only team to finish with a perfect 8-0 record)
- Bayern Munich
- Liverpool
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Barcelona
- Chelsea
- Sporting CP
- Manchester City
The Unseeded Teams (Play-off Winners)
- Real Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Atlético Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Newcastle United
- Atalanta
- Galatasaray
- Bodø/Glimt
Analysis: Drama and Disruptions
The new format has already delivered on its promise of “more stakes.” Inter Milan, the 2025 runners-up, falling to Bodø/Glimt sent shockwaves through Italian football, while Juventus’ exit at the hands of Galatasaray in extra time means Serie A’s hopes rest solely on Atalanta.
Meanwhile, the Premier League has achieved a rare feat: all six English entrants (Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Spurs, Chelsea, and Newcastle) have reached the Round of 16. Because there are no country protections from the Round of 16 onwards, we could see “All-English” blockbusters as early as the next round.
What’s Next?
The draw for the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, and Semi-finals will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026, in Nyon.
Key Dates:
- Round of 16 First Legs: March 10–11
- Round of 16 Second Legs: March 17–18
