The draw, held in Nyon, Switzerland, on January 30, 2026, confirmed several high-stakes matchups.

Full Playoff Fixtures:

• Real Madrid vs Benfica – a repeat of recent European encounters promises fireworks.
• Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco – a tricky all-French showdown.
• Newcastle United vs Qarabağ
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos
• Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund
• Juventus vs Galatasaray
• Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge
• Inter Milan vs Bodø/Glimt

These ties will be contested over two legs in February 2026, with the victors advancing to the Champions League Round of 16.

 

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With powerhouses like Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid involved, fans can expect intense battles, dramatic moments, and unforgettable nights as the road to the 2025/26 Champions League trophy continues.

 

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The French club confirmed the move via a statement on its official website, expressing delight at securing the services of the 22-year-old Spanish international, who is expected to bolster Monaco’s attacking options ahead of the new season.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ansu Fati to the Principality. His talent and versatility will bring significant value to our offensive play,” the club said.

 

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Fati arrives at Monaco with an impressive résumé. Since breaking into the first team at Barcelona, he has made 123 appearances, scored 29 goals, and delivered 8 assists.

During his time with the Catalan giants, he won major domestic honours including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. Notably, he also made history as the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history.

The winger spent the 2023/2024 season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, where he featured in 27 matches and netted 4 goals.

 

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On the international stage, Fati has been part of the Spanish national team, representing his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and contributing to their success in lifting the UEFA Nations League title in 2023.

With this new chapter in Ligue 1, Fati will look to revive his form and fulfill the early promise that once saw him heralded as one of Europe’s brightest young talents.

L’AS Monaco est heureux d’annoncer l’arrivée d’Ansu Fati 🇪🇸

L’attaquant espagnol de 22 ans est prêté par le FC Barcelone pour la saison 2025-2026, avec option d’achat 🤝

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 1, 2025

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Bayer Leverkusen have opened discussions with AS Monaco as they seek to land talented French midfielder Maghnes Akliouche in what could become one of the most high-profile transfers of the summer.

According to Sky Germany, the Bundesliga champions have been tracking the 23-year-old for some time and have now initiated talks in hopes of securing a deal. However, negotiations could prove challenging, with Monaco demanding a hefty transfer fee in the region of €70 million.

Akliouche’s impressive performances have not gone unnoticed. French outlet L’Équipe previously reported that Manchester United have also expressed strong interest in the creative midfielder. Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and even Real Madrid, now managed by former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, a known admirer of the player, are all said to be monitoring the situation closely.

Despite intense interest from City and PSG in previous windows, Akliouche opted to remain in the principality last summer, signing a contract extension that keeps him at Stade Louis II until 2028. However, Monaco’s long-standing model of cashing in on top talent when market value peaks means a transfer this summer is increasingly likely.

Akliouche enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024/25, playing 43 matches, scoring seven goals, and registering 12 assists across all competitions. His consistent form has also fueled speculation about a possible first call-up to the senior France national team.

Having risen through Monaco’s academy after joining at age 15 in 2017, Akliouche made his senior debut in 2022 and has since become one of the club’s standout players. His technical finesse, vision, and ability to operate between the lines make him a valuable asset for any top European side.

With the summer transfer window heating up, Leverkusen will need to move swiftly and possibly fend off competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs if they hope to bring Akliouche to the BayArena.

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With the tournament expanded to 36 teams, the traditional group stage was replaced by a single-league “Swiss model” format. The inaugural league phase concluded on Wednesday, with 24 teams advancing to the knockout phase.

However, the path to the Round of 16 is not the same for all qualifiers:

– The top 8 teams automatically progressed to the last 16.
– The remaining 16 teams (9th-24th place) entered the knockout play-off round, where they will compete for the final 8 spots in the last 16.

Knockout Play-Off Format

– 16 teams will take part in the draw.
– It will be seeded, meaning:
– Teams that finished 9th to 16th will face teams that finished 17th to 24th.
– Higher-seeded teams (9th-16th) will play the second leg at home.
– No Europa League drop-down: Teams finishing 25th-36th are eliminated outright.

Fixture Pairing Format

For clarity, matchups will be based on finishing positions:
– 9th & 10th will face 23rd & 24th
– 11th & 12th will face 21st & 22nd
– 13th & 14th will face 19th & 20th
– 15th & 16th will face 17th & 18th

The knockout play-off ties will be played across two legs on:

– February 11/12 & February 18/19, 2025

After these matches, the 8 winners will join the 8 automatically qualified teams in the Round of 16, where a separate draw will determine the final matchups.

With the new format, anticipation is high as Europe’s elite prepare for a thrilling knockout stage! 🔥⚽

Clubs involved in Champions League knockout play-off round

Clubs eliminated from the Champions League after league phase

• Dinamo Zagreb
• VfB Stuttgart
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Bologna
• Crvena zvezda
• Sturm Graz
• Sparta Prague
• RB Leipzig
• Girona
• RB Salzburg
• Slovan Bratislava
• Young Boys

When is the draw for the UEFA Champions League playoffs?

Following the completion of the league phase, two crucial draws will take place to shape the knockout rounds of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.

The first draw, scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, will determine the specific matchups for the knockout playoff round. For instance, a team finishing 13th will learn whether they will face the team finishing 19th or 20th.

The seeded teams (9th-16th) will enjoy the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the play-off ties, which are set to take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19.

The second draw will then finalize the round of 16 matchups, mapping out each team’s potential route to the final. With so much at stake, the coming weeks promise high-stakes action and fierce competition in Europe’s biggest club tournament.

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The first round of matches in the revamped 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is officially in the books, with eight teams securing automatic qualification to the round of 16.

The opening phase of the competition delivered drama, shock upsets, and breathtaking performances, setting the stage for an intense knockout battle among Europe’s elite.

With the stakes higher than ever, fans can expect even more unforgettable moments, thrilling comebacks, and unexpected twists as the road to the final unfolds.

Teams who have secured automatic qualifying for the round of 16.

(1) Liverpool
(2) Barcelona
(3) Arsenal
(4) Inter Milan
(5) Atletico Madrid
(6) Bayer Leverkusen
(7) Lille
(8) Aston Villa

Clubs that qualified for the Champions League playoffs.

(1) Atalanta
(2) Borussia Dortmund
(3) Real Madrid
(4) Bayern Munich
(5) AC Milan
(6) PSV
(7) PSG
(8) Benfica
(9) Monaco
(10) Stade Brestios
(11) Feyenoord
(12) Juventus
(13) Celtic
(14) Manchester City
(15) Sporting Lisbon
(16) Club Brugge

When is the draw for the UEFA Champions League playoffs?

Following the completion of the league phase, two crucial draws will take place to shape the knockout rounds of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.

The first draw, scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, will determine the specific matchups for the knockout playoff round. For instance, a team finishing 13th will learn whether they will face the team finishing 19th or 20th.

The seeded teams (9th-16th) will enjoy the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the play-off ties, which are set to take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19.

The second draw will then finalize the round of 16 matchups, mapping out each team’s potential route to the final. With so much at stake, the coming weeks promise high-stakes action and fierce competition in Europe’s biggest club tournament.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Teams that have qualified for UEFA Champions League knockout, playoff stages.

In a deal costing €40 million (£34 million), AS Monaco purchased Folarin Balogun. It also included a 17.5% sell-on clause for Arsenal.

The 22-year-old striker garnered a lot of interest from clubs during the summer transfer window, including Inter Milan, Chelsea, Fulham, West Ham United, and other German teams. However, AS Monaco has emerged as the victor after their initial bid was rejected earlier this month.

It should be noted that Arsenal was willing to let Balogun go this summer, providing the correct price was presented. Following the exits of Pablo Mari, Granit Xhaka, Auston Trusty, and Matt Turner, this transaction is the Gunners’ sixth permanent sale.

Balogun returns to Ligue 1 after joining AS Monaco. He was one of the major success stories among Arsenal’s loaned players last season. With 21 goals, he was among the league’s top scorers, even outscoring established names like Lionel Messi and Neymar, but he finished second to Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot competition.

Wishing you all the best, Flo ❤️

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 30, 2023

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