With the Champions League group stage now complete, the path to Wembley is taking shape as the playoff round begins. Three Italian clubs – Inter, Juventus, and Atalanta – will vie for a spot in the Round of 16, though none earned automatic qualification. This article details the matchups, seeding, and key dates for the playoffs, offering a comprehensive overview of the next stage of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Sixteen teams will advance to the knockout stage: those finishing between ninth and 24th place in the group stage. Teams ranked ninth through 16th will be seeded in the draw, scheduled for Friday, January 30th at 12:00 PM CET in Nyon.
The Champions League group stage concluded on Wednesday, January 28th, setting the stage for the playoff round. Three Italian clubs – Inter, Juventus, and Atalanta – will participate, following Napoli’s elimination after a 1-0 loss to Chelsea at the Maradona Stadium. However, none of the Italian sides secured a direct spot in the Round of 16. Last season saw Atalanta, Juventus, and Milan all fall in the playoff round, with Inter reaching the final in Munich before a 5-0 defeat to PSG on May 31st. Here’s a breakdown of how the Champions League playoffs will work.
Direct Qualification to the Round of 16
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The top eight teams – with a dominant showing from English clubs – have earned direct passage to the Round of 16, bypassing the extra two-legged tie. Those teams are Arsenal (with a perfect record), Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting, and Manchester City. They won’t return to Champions League action until February 27th, the date of the next draw.
Teams Entering the Playoffs
The 16 teams ranked ninth through 24th will compete in the playoffs. The teams finishing ninth through 16th will be seeded in the draw on Friday, January 30th at 12:00 PM CET in Nyon, and will host the second leg. Those teams are: Real Madrid, Inter, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen. The teams ranked 17th through 24th will be the unseeded teams. They include Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Bruges, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodo/Glimt, and Benfica.
Eliminated Teams
Teams finishing 25th through 36th have been eliminated from Champions League contention. Those teams are Marseille, Union SG, PSV, Athletic Bilbao, Napoli, Copenhagen, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat.
How the Playoffs Work
Teams ranked ninth through 16th are seeded, while those ranked 17th through 24th are unseeded. This playoff stage allows for the possibility of domestic derbies. The teams finishing ninth and tenth in the group stage will face the teams ranked 23rd or 24th; the 11th and 12th-placed teams will take on the 21st or 22nd; the 13th and 14th will face the 19th or 20th; and the 15th and 16th will compete against the 17th or 18th.
Potential Opponents for Italian Clubs
Based on this setup, Inter, finishing tenth, will face either Benfica or Bodo/Glimt. Juventus (13th place) will play either Bruges or Galatasaray, and Atalanta (15th place) will be matched up against Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos.
Potential Round of 16 Matchups
The draw on February 27th will determine the Round of 16 pairings, but the three Italian clubs already know their potential opponents. Atalanta could face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich – a challenging prospect. Inter could be drawn against Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, while Juventus could face Liverpool or Tottenham.
Key Dates
The Champions League playoffs will be played over two legs, with the first legs taking place on February 17th and 18th, and the second legs on February 24th and 25th.
Where to Watch on TV
The February playoff matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports (and streamed on Sky Go and Now). One match on Wednesday will be shown on Amazon Prime Video, while one game (not involving Italian teams) will be available on free-to-air television on Tv8.
