Champions League bracket & potential knockout opponents for every club in Round of 16 & playoffs
(Courtesy : Getty)
UCL will now head towards the knockout stage.
The knockout stage’s structure has changed significantly as a result of the UEFA Champions League format change.
The focus now shifts to the knockout stage, where 24 teams will compete for European supremacy, following the exciting end of the 2025–26 league phase, which saw clubs vying for position until the very last kick of the final match.
While the sixteen teams below them will compete in a two-leg playoff round to determine the remaining eight qualifiers, the top eight league stage finishers go directly to the Round of 16.
We provide specifics on how the games are selected, who can play whom, and where each team’s route to winning the Champions League can be plotted.
UEFA Champions League bracket explained
The knockout-stage bracket under the current Champions League structure, which adheres to the so-called Swiss Model, is mostly—though not totally—determined by final league-phase standings.
The playoff-round pairings will be decided by a draw after the league phase, which is scheduled for this Friday, January 30. The remainder of the bracket will be decided by another draw before the Round of 16.
Each qualifier has to be pitted against two opponents in the Round of 16 and the knockout playoffs.
Potential opponents for every team in the knockout playoffs
The top qualifiers from the league phase are paired with the lowest-placed qualifiers in the Champions League knockout playoffs, and thereafter.
Check it out below:
- 9th & 10th vs. 23rd & 24th
- 11th & 12th vs. 21st & 22nd
- 13th & 14th vs. 19th & 20th
- 15th & 16th vs. 17th & 18th
The Champions League knockout-playoff round seeding for the 2025–2026 season is displayed in the table below.
| League phase pos. | Possible opponents |
| 9th (Real Madrid) | 23rd (Bodo/Glimt) or 24th (Benfica) |
| 10th (Inter Milan) | 23rd (Bodo/Glimt) or 24th (Benfica) |
| 11th (PSG) | 21st (Monaco) or 22nd (Qarabag) |
| 12th (Newcastle United) | 21st (Monaco) or 22nd (Qarabag) |
| 13th (Juventus) | 19th (Club Brugge) or 20th (Galatasaray) |
| 14th (Atletico Madrid) | 19th (Club Brugge) or 20th (Galatasaray) |
| 15th (Atalanta) | 17th (Borussia Dortmund) or 18th (Olympiacos) |
| 16th (Bayer Leverkusen) | 17th (Borussia Dortmund) or 18th (Olympiacos) |
| 17th (Borussia Dortmund) | 15th (Atalanta) or 16th (Bayer Leverkusen) |
| 18th (Olympiacos) | 15th (Atalanta) or 16th (Bayer Leverkusen) |
| 19th (Club Brugge) | 13th (Juventus) or 14th (Atletico Madrid) |
| 20th (Galatasaray) | 13th (Juventus) or 14th (Atletico Madrid) |
| 21st (AS Monaco) | 11th (PSG) or 12th (Newcastle) |
| 22nd (Qarabag) | 11th (PSG) or 12th (Newcastle) |
| 23rd (Bodo/Glimt) | 9th (Real Madrid) or 10th (Inter Milan) |
| 24th (Benfica) | 9th (Real Madrid) or 10th (Inter Milan) |
Potential opponents for every team in Round of 16
The top eight finishers from the league phase are paired with the eight knockout playoff winners in the Champions League Round of 16, once more based on those final positions.
The matchups are as follows:
- 1st & 2nd in league phase vs. winner of 15/16 vs. 17/18
- 3rd & 4th in league phase vs. winner of 13/14 vs. 19/20
- 5th & 6th in league phase vs. winner of 11/12 vs. 21/22
- 7th & 8th in league phase vs. winner of 9/10 vs. 23/24
The Champions League Round of 16 seeding for the 2025–2026 season is displayed in the table below.
| League phase pos. | Possible opponents |
| 1st (Arsenal) | 15/16 (Atalanta/Bayer Leverkusen) or 17/18 (Borussia Dortmund/Olympiacos) |
| 2nd (Bayern Munich) | 15/16 (Atalanta/Bayer Leverkusen) or 17/18 (Borussia Dortmund/Olympiacos) |
| 3rd (Liverpool) | 13/14 (Juventus/Atletico Madrid) or 19/20 (Club Brugge/Galatasaray) |
| 4th (Tottenham) | 13/14 (Juventus/Atletico Madrid) or 19/20 (Club Brugge/Galatasaray) |
| 5th (Barcelona) | 11/12 (PSG/Newcastle United) or 21/22 (Monaco/Qarabag) |
| 6th (Chelsea) | 11/12 (PSG/Newcastle United) or 21/22 (Monaco/Qarabag) |
| 7th (Sporting CP) | 9/10 (Real Madrid/Inter Milan) or 23/24 (Bodo/Glimt/Benfica) |
| 8th (Man City) | 9/10 (Real Madrid/Inter Milan) or 23/24 (Bodo/Glimt/Benfica) |
Champions League knockout bracket and rest of 2025-26 campaign games
The draw on Friday, January 30, will determine the schedule and matchups for the Champions League playoffs rounds in 2025–2026.
The schedule and matches for the remainder of the Champions League knockout round will be decided at the Round of 16 draw on February 27. The entire bracket will be decided at that moment; there won’t be any further drawings after that.
Champions League Playoff Round — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Feb. 17-18 | KO1: 23 (Bodo/Glimt) or 24 (Benfica) vs. 9 (Real Madrid) or 10 (Inter Milan) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO2: 23 (Bodo/Glimt) or 24 (Benfica) vs. 9 (Real Madrid) or 10 (Inter Milan) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO3: 21 (Monaco) or 22 (Qarabag) vs. 11 (PSG) or 12 (Newcastle) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO4: 21 (Monaco) or 22 (Qarabag) vs. 11 (PSG) or 12 (Newcastle) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO5: 19 (Club Brugge) or 20 (Galatasaray) vs. 13 (Juventus) or 14 (Atletico Madrid) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO6: 19 (Club Brugge) or 20 (Galatasaray) vs. 13 (Juventus) or 14 (Atletico Madrid) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO7: 17 (Dortmund) or 18 (Olympiacos) vs. 15 (Atalanta) or 16 (Leverkusen) | ||
| Feb. 17-18 | KO8: 17 (Dortmund) or 18 (Olympiacos) vs. 15 (Atalanta) or 16 (Leverkusen) |
Champions League Playoff Round — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Feb. 24-25 | KO1: 9 (Real Madrid) or 10 (Inter Milan) vs. 23 (Bodo/Glimt) or 24 (Benfica) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO2: 9 (Real Madrid) or 10 (Inter Milan) vs. 23 (Bodo/Glimt) or 24 (Benfica) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO3: 11 (PSG) or 12 (Newcastle) vs. 21 (AS Monaco) or 22 (Qarabag) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO4: 11 (PSG) or 12 (Newcastle) vs. 21 (AS Monaco) or 22 (Qarabag) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO5: 13 (Juventus) or 14 (Atletico Madrid) vs. 19 (Club Brugge) or 20 (Galatasaray) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO6: 13 (Juventus) or 14 (Atletico Madrid) vs. 19 (Club Brugge) or 20 (Galatasaray) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO7: 15 (Atalanta) or 16 (Leverkusen) vs. 17 (Dortmund) or 18 (Olympiacos) | ||
| Feb. 24-25 | KO8: 15 (Atalanta) or 16 (Leverkusen) vs. 17 (Dortmund) or 18 (Olympiacos) |
Champions League Round of 16 — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Mar. 10-11 | M1: Winner KO8 vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M2: Winner KO7 vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M3: Winner KO6 vs. Liverpool or Tottenham | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M4: Winner KO5 vs. Liverpool or Tottenham | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M5: Winner KO4 vs. Barcelona or Chelsea | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M6: Winner KO3 vs. Liverpool or Tottenham | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M7: Winner KO2 vs. Sporting CP or Man City | ||
| Mar. 10-11 | M8: Winner KO1 vs. Sporting CP or Man City |
Champions League Round of 16 — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Mar. 17-18 | M1: Arsenal or Bayern Munich vs. Winner KO8 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M2: Arsenal or Bayern Munich vs. Winner KO7 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M3: Liverpool or Tottenham vs. Winner KO6 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M4: Liverpool or Tottenham vs. Winner KO5 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M5: Barcelona or Chelsea vs. Winner KO4 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M6: Liverpool or Tottenham vs. Winner KO3 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M7: Sporting CP or Man City vs. Winner KO2 | ||
| Mar. 17-18 | M8: Sporting CP or Man City vs. Winner KO1 |
Champions League Quarterfinals — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | ||
| Apr. 7-8 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | ||
| Apr. 7-8 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | ||
| Apr. 7-8 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Champions League Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | ||
| Apr. 14-15 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | ||
| Apr. 14-15 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | ||
| Apr. 14-15 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Champions League Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | ||
| Apr. 14-15 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | ||
| Apr. 14-15 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | ||
| Apr. 14-15 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Semifinals — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Apr. 28-29 | SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF4 | ||
| Apr. 28-29 | SF2: Winner, QF2 vs. Winner, QF3 |
Champions League Semifinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| May 5-6 | SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF4 | ||
| May 5-6 | SF2: Winner, QF2 vs. Winner, QF3 |
Champions League final
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| May 30 | 3 p.m. | SF1: Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2 | Puskas Arena (Budapest, Hungary) |
Which teams have qualified for the Champions League round of 16?
Top eight teams.
Which teams will play in the Champions League playoffs?
From the ninth to the 24th placed teams.
When is the Champions League final?
The final is on May 30.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.