Champions League chaos is locked in

How the draw shaped the road to the final

The knockout phase picture was finalised in Nyon on Friday, according to UEFA.com, as teams placed ninth to 24th in the league phase were paired in two legged play off ties. The winners will advance to the round of 16, where the bracket structure already maps a potential path through to the final at the Puskás Aréna on 30 May 2026.

The draw is part of the 2025 26 Champions League season, the 71st edition of Europe’s premier club competition and the first to fully embed the expanded league phase format.

Heavyweights placed on a collision course

Several major names were handed immediate tests, with the bracket revealing possible blockbuster encounters later in the competition.

Borussia Dortmund face Atalanta in the play offs, with the winner set to meet either Arsenal or Bayern München in the round of 16. Benfica were drawn against Real Madrid, and the survivor of that tie could go on to face Manchester City or Sporting CP. Real Madrid already has to get back on the horse after their 4-2 defeat in last round against Benfica.

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Galatasaray and Juventus will contest another high profile play off, with Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur waiting in the next round. An all French clash between Monaco and Paris guarantees that one of the Ligue 1 sides will progress, potentially setting up a meeting with Barcelona or Chelsea. Question remains what bracket Barcelona and Chelsea wants to be in.

First timers and outsiders handed historic opportunities

The bracket also highlights how the revamped format has opened the door for clubs breaking new ground. According to UEFA.com, Bodø Glimt will play their first ever Champions League knockout tie against Inter, with the winner due to face either Manchester City or Sporting CP in the round of 16.

Qarabağ were paired with Newcastle United in a first competitive meeting between the clubs, and the victor will move on to face Barcelona or Chelsea. Club Brugge were drawn against Atlético De Madrid, while Olympiacos will meet Leverkusen, with Arsenal or Bayern München lying in wait for the winners.

The layout of the bracket ensures that established champions and emerging sides remain on intersecting paths as the tournament progresses.

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What the bracket reveals about the new format

Under the new Champions League system, league phase rankings continue to influence the knockout rounds, according to UEFA.com. Teams finishing higher in the standings are seeded and earn the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the quarter finals and semi finals, should they progress that far.

This structure means that early play off ties now carry long term consequences, shaping not just immediate survival but the difficulty of the route toward the final itself.

From Nyon to Budapest with no room for error

The knockout phase play offs will be played on 17 18 and 24 25 February 2026, with the round of 16 following in March. As the bracket now makes clear, there are no quiet corners left in the competition.

For some clubs, February offers a chance to extend an unexpected European run. For others, it is a potential trapdoor on the road to Budapest.

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Source: UEFA.com

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