Champions League Knockout Play-Offs: Drama and Big Names in the Draw
Champions League Knockout Play-Offs: Drama and Big Names in the Draw Nyon, Switzerland — The UEFA Champions League knockout phase took a dramatic turn on 30 January 2026, with the draw for the knockout play-offs setting up a series of must-watch ties that will decide the final eight teams reaching the Round of 16. This stage comes after a thrilling and unpredictable league phase in the new 36-team format, which saw giants like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) miss out on automatic qualification. � Reuters With the round of 16 still to be drawn, the knockout play-offs will be played over two legs — on 17/18 and 24/25 February 2026 — with winners progressing to meet the top-eight automatic qualifiers such as Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting CP and Tottenham Hotspur. � UEFA.com +1 Blockbuster Play-Off Matchups The pairings revealed some fascinating stories and potential rematches: Real Madrid vs Benfica – A tie that rek...