Champions League Play-offs Draw Sets Up Key Battles on Road to Round of 16
The UEFA Champions League play-offs draw has been released, setting up several exciting clashes as clubs battle for places in the Round of 16.
Atalanta have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund in one of the standout ties. The Italian side finished 15th in the league phase after losing their final match to Union Saint-Gilloise, which pushed them into the play-offs. The first leg will be played on 17 February at the Signal Iduna Park in Germany, while the return leg will take place a week later in Italy. The winner of the tie will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the Round of 16.
Club Brugge will take on Atletico Madrid in another tough encounter. Both legs will be played on the same dates as the Atalanta versus Dortmund fixture. The team that progresses will go on to meet either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool in the next round.
Galatasaray have been drawn against Juventus, a tie that will see the Turkish club return to Italy. Both legs of the match will also be played in February, with the winner set to face either Tottenham or Liverpool in the Round of 16.
Olympiacos will face Bayer Leverkusen over two legs as they aim to reach the last 16. The winner of that tie will be paired with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the next stage of the competition.
Other play-off fixtures include Monaco against Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica versus Real Madrid, Qarabag taking on Newcastle, and Bodø/Glimt facing Inter Milan.
With the draw now confirmed, the route to the Champions League final has been laid out, promising high-quality contests as Europe’s top clubs fight to stay in the competition.
