Champions League KNOCK-OUTS: All you need to know about the play-off fixtures after the draw

The UEFA Champions League knock-out stages are set to begin, after the recent draw confirmed the play-off fixtures ahead of the round of 16.

Champions League KNOCK-OUTS: All you need to know about the play-off fixtures after the draw

The Champions League play-off fixtures were decided after a draw. (via Reuters)

The new UEFA Champions League format has ushered in a newfound excitement among teams and players this season. The recently conducted play-offs draw helped determine the teams who would make it into the last-16 of the competition.

Several high-profile clubs, including defending champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Manchester City and Juventus, failed to automatically qualify into the round of 16. The new format mandates a two-legged play-off round. It would determine the final eight opponents for the knock-out stages of the competition.

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Belgian side Club Brugge came first, and they are set to face off against Europa League winners Atalanta. Meanwhile, Sporting CP are set to face last season’s finalists Dortmund. Celtic face Bayern Munich, while Monaco face Benfica. Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus will face Dutch opponents Feyenoord and PSV respectively. Interestingly, an all-French encounter sees PSG face fellow Ligue 1 rivals, Brest.

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While all other fixtures have created a lot of hype surrounding the new format, the most anticipated one remains Real Madrid’s match against Manchester City. Both teams battle each other in the Champions League knock-outs for the four consecutive seasons. They had last played each other in UCL the quarter-finals last season, when Real Madrid emerged victorious on penalties.

The knockout phase play-offs will be played over a course of two weeks, starting next month. The first leg of the competition is scheduled on the 11th and 12th of February, followed by the second leg on the 18th and 19th of February.

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How will the Champions League round of 16 stages look like after the play-offs?

The UCL play-off fixtures, consisting of teams placed between the 9th and 24th position on the table, has been decided after the draw. We shall now take a look at all the possible match-ups in the round of 16, this season.

Champions League knockouts
The new Champions League format with an added play-offs round should be an exciting one. (via Sky Sports)

Two winning teams among Club Brugge, Atalanta, Sporting CP and Dortmund might face off against Lille or Aston Villa in the last 16. Two among Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Celtic will take on Atletico Madrid or Leverkusen. Arsenal or Inter Milan might be handed two opponents among Feynoord, AC Milan, Juventus and PSV. Liverpool or Barcelona could play Brest, PSG, Monaco or Benfica.

Meanwhile, the Champions League round of 16 draw is scheduled to take place on the 21st of February, after the end of the play-offs round. It will pave the road to teams, who are vying for a place in the final in Munich, this year.