Champions League Knockout Playoffs Reach Critical Second-Leg Stage — Round of 16 Draw Looms

The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League has arrived at one of its most pivotal moments. With the knockout playoff second legs set for Tuesday and Wednesday, February 24–25, 2026 (ET), eight clubs are fighting to join the elite eight teams already confirmed in the Champions League Round of 16. The stakes could not be higher — Budapest and the Puskás Aréna await the last side standing on May 30.

Champions League Knockout Playoff Second Legs: What to Watch

Four second-leg ties tip off Tuesday, February 24 ET, with four more following Wednesday, February 25. Every aggregate scoreline hangs in the balance. Galatasaray's stunning 5-2 first-leg destruction of Juventus headlines the drama, while Paris Saint-Germain, the defending Champions League holders, narrowly lead Monaco 3-2 heading into their return fixture.

Full Knockout Playoff Second-Leg Schedule and First-Leg Scores

Biggest Champions League Stories Heading Into Second Legs

The tie of the round remains Galatasaray vs. Juventus. Galatasaray's emphatic 5-2 victory in the first leg at home puts Juventus — a historic Champions League brand — on the brink of elimination. The Turin club needs a near-miraculous comeback to survive.

Inter Milan face an equally uncomfortable position, trailing 1-3 to Norwegian outfit Bodø/Glimt. The Nerazzurri must overturn a two-goal deficit on home soil to avoid one of the biggest Champions League upsets in recent memory.

Real Madrid hold a slender 1-0 advantage over Benfica. The Madrid club arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu having already parted ways with former manager Carlo Ancelotti during the season, with Álvaro Arbeloa now at the helm. The tie is very much alive, and Kylian Mbappé — the Champions League's top scorer this season with 11 goals — will be expected to seal the deal in front of the home faithful.

Teams Already Through to the Champions League Round of 16

Eight clubs bypassed the playoffs altogether after finishing in the top eight of the league phase table:

• Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting CP, Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal were the standout side of the league phase. England boasts a record six clubs still competing in the 2025–26 Champions League knockout rounds — a testament to the Premier League's dominance in European club football.

Champions League Round of 16 Draw: Date and Format

The Champions League Round of 16 draw takes place Friday, February 27, at 6:00 AM ET in Nyon, Switzerland, just 48 hours after the final playoff results. The bracket will be fully mapped out, revealing potential paths all the way through the quarterfinals and semifinals to the Budapest final.

Round of 16 first legs are scheduled for March 10–11, with second legs on March 17–18.

Road to Budapest: Key Champions League Dates Ahead

The Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, will host the Champions League final for the first time in the competition's history. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed their maiden title last season, are fighting to stay alive and defend their crown.