Knockout play-off draw on Jan 30 will pair positions 9–16 (seeded) with 17–24 (unseeded), creating two-legged ties Feb 17/18 & 24/25. Betting angle: favour strong home sides in first legs, look for value on lower-seed underdogs and domestic-derby matchups that can offer boosted odds.
Champions League: Knockout Play-off Draw to Decide Final Round of 16 Spots
The league phase of the Champions League is nearing its end, and clubs finishing 9th to 24th will discover their knockout play-off opponents when the draw takes place at 12:00 CET (11:00 GMT) on Friday, January 30, 2026. The top eight teams secure direct entry to the Round of 16; the remaining 16 enter a two-legged knockout play-off to claim the other eight spots.
How the Knockout Play-off Draw Works
Seeding and Pairings
Under the competition principles, clubs are grouped into seeded and unseeded pairs based on their final league-phase positions: four seeded pairs (positions 9–10, 11–12, 13–14, 15–16) and four unseeded pairs (17–18, 19–20, 21–22, 23–24). Each seeded pair is drawn against an unseeded pair as follows:
- Clubs 9 or 10 are drawn against clubs 23 or 24.
- Clubs 11 or 12 are drawn against clubs 21 or 22.
- Clubs 13 or 14 are drawn against clubs 19 or 20.
- Clubs 15 or 16 are drawn against clubs 17 or 18.
Draw Mechanics and Restrictions
Clubs from the same national association may meet in the knockout play-offs, meaning domestic derbies are possible. Teams can also be drawn against opponents they already faced during the league phase.
Match Dates and Next Draws
The knockout play-off is played over two legs: first legs on February 17/18 and return legs on February 24/25. The winners advance to the Round of 16; that draw is scheduled for Friday, February 27, 2026.
Champions League Key Dates
- Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026 - Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final draws: 27 February 2026 - Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026 - Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026 - Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026 - Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
Current Standings Snapshot
1 Arsenal — P7 W7 D0 L0 GD+18 Pts 21
2 Bayern — P7 W6 D0 L1 GD+13 Pts 18
3 Real Madrid — P7 W5 D0 L2 GD+11 Pts 15
4 Liverpool — P7 W5 D0 L2 GD+6 Pts 15
5 Tottenham — P7 W4 D2 L1 GD+8 Pts 14
6 PSG — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+10 Pts 13
7 Newcastle — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+10 Pts 13
8 Chelsea — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+6 Pts 13
9 Barcelona — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+5 Pts 13
10 Sporting — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+5 Pts 13
11 Man City — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+4 Pts 13
12 Atlético Madrid — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+3 Pts 13
13 Atalanta — P7 W4 D1 L2 GD+1 Pts 13
14 Inter — P7 W4 D0 L3 GD+6 Pts 12
15 Juventus — P7 W3 D3 L1 GD+4 Pts 12
16 Dortmund — P7 W3 D2 L2 GD+4 Pts 11
17 Galatasaray — P7 W3 D1 L3 GD0 Pts 10
18 Qarabağ — P7 W3 D1 L3 GD-2 Pts 10
19 Marseille — P7 W3 D0 L4 GD0 Pts 9
20 Leverkusen — P7 W2 D3 L2 GD-4 Pts 9
21 Monaco — P7 W2 D3 L2 GD-6 Pts 9
22 PSV — P7 W2 D2 L3 GD+1 Pts 8
23 Athletic — P7 W2 D2 L3 GD-4 Pts 8
24 Olympiacos — P7 W2 D2 L3 GD-5 Pts 8
25 Napoli — P7 W2 D2 L3 GD-5 Pts 8
26 København — P7 W2 D2 L3 GD-6 Pts 8
27 Club Brugge — P7 W2 D1 L4 GD-5 Pts 7
28 Bodø/Glimt — P7 W1 D3 L3 GD-2 Pts 6
29 Benfica — P7 W2 D0 L5 GD-4 Pts 6
30 Pafos — P7 W1 D3 L3 GD-6 Pts 6
31 Union SG — P7 W2 D0 L5 GD-10 Pts 6
32 Ajax — P7 W2 D0 L5 GD-12 Pts 6
33 Frankfurt — P7 W1 D1 L5 GD-9 Pts 4
34 Slavia Praha — P7 W0 D3 L4 GD-11 Pts 3
35 Villarreal — P7 W0 D1 L6 GD-10 Pts 1
36 Kairat — P7 W0 D1 L6 GD-14 Pts 1
What This Means for Bettors
The play-off format creates volatility: two-leg ties and possible same-association matchups can swing quickly. Punters should weigh home form for first legs, shop for value on underdog lines from lower seeds, and monitor draw outcomes closely—domestic derbies and repeat league-phase fixtures often produce tighter odds and potential edges.
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