We have reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, where 24 sides are left to compete for the trophy. While eight of them directly qualified for the round of 16, the other 16 teams enter this knockout round playoffs hoping to join them.
Here is The Deck’s preview of the upcoming round. We will look at each of the eight playoff ties, and predict who will progress to the next stage.
UEFA Champions League: Knockout Round Playoffs
Real Madrid and Benfica to Meet Again
Opening the knockout playoffs will be Juventus and Galatasaray, in what will be a seventh and eighth meeting between the two sides.
The Bianocneri had a solid league phase, losing just once in their eight matches – the fewest of any of the sides involved in this round. The 10 goals they conceded was only bettered by Inter and Newcastle (both seven). This will be the second year in a row where Juve is involved in the knockout playoffs, having lost to PSV at this stage last term.
For Galatasaray, it has been 12 years since they last got past the group phase of the UCL. It also coincides with their last victory over their Italian opponent, with the 1-0 victory on matchday 6 sending them through. The last time they won a match in the knockout rounds of the Champions League came at the beginning of the century in a 3-2 defeat of Real Madrid in the 2000/01 quarterfinals, though they still lost the tie.
Prediction: Juventus
Our pick for tie of the round is a repeat of a clash from three weeks ago, between Real Madrid and Benfica.
It was an incredible turn of events for both teams to be involved in this round, as Real was well on their way to qualifying for the round of 16 directly. Instead, the 4-2 reverse at the end of January, coupled with results elsewhere, mean they return to the knockout playoffs for the second year running. This is the fourth time that the side from the Spanish capital will face a Portuguese club in a two-legged UCL knockout tie. The only one they failed to progress from was against Benfica, back in 1964/65 (6-3 on aggregate).
While few expected Real to be here, even fewer would have seen Benfica involved in European football beyond January. Having lost their first four games of the league phase, the former winners seemed destined for an early elimination. Yet, thanks to a late run, where they won three of the final four – and a goalkeeper goal – As Águias are once again back in the knockout round. They have reached the round of 16 or better in a European competition in four of the last five campaigns.
Prediction: Real Madrid
Atalanta takes on Borussia Dortmund eight years on from their other battle in a two-legged knockout tie.
La Dea had a bumpy league phase, losing three times while scoring (and conceding) 10 times. In what is their fifth season playing in the UCL, they have not advanced to the round of 16 in their last two attempts. Club Brugge ended their run in this very round 12 months ago, something the 2023/24 Europa League winners will want to rectify this time around.
Dortmund came out on top when they last met Atalanta, back in the 2017/18 UEL round of 32 (4-3 aggregate). It is the third time this season Die Schwarzgelben will have to do battle with an Italian club. During the league phase, they drew 4-4 with Juventus on matchday 1, before falling 2-0 to Inter just a few weeks ago. They knocked out Sporting CP in this round last term en route to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund
For the second year running, we have an all-French tie, with Paris Saint-Germain taking on AS Monaco.
The defending champions will surely hope to have a similar outcome to that of last February, when they cruised to a 10-0 aggregate victory over Brest. PSG dropped out of the top eight in the final round thanks to a draw with Newcastle. This is despite scoring the joint-fourth highest number of goals (21) in their eight matches. They have reached the last 16 or better in each of the last 13 seasons.
Monaco has also met a French team in Europe before, with the previous tie coming in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup. On that occasion, Marseille defeated them 3-2 over the two legs. Les Monegasques have kept a clean sheet in their last three home games in the UCL, but did lose to Benfica in the playoffs last year. The 12 goals they conceded on the road is the second most of the sides left.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain
Inter, Atleti Face Tough Tests
Newcastle will be heavy favourites in their knockout tie as they face Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ.
This is the first time that the Magpies will be involved in a two-legged UCL tie since 2003/04, when they lost to Partizan Belgrade on penalties in the third qualifying round. It also coincides with the last time they lost a home match in a two-legged tie in any European club competition. Victory on the final matchday of the league phase would have seen them skip this round.
For Qarabağ, it is another historic moment for them. After beating their group phase tally from their other appearance in their first match, Atlılar did the unthinkable, collecting 10 points to make it through. In doing so, they matched Feyenoord in conceding the most goals of any side to ever make it past the first group phase (21). They did draw against Chelsea on matchday 4, which could give them some hope.
Prediction: Newcastle
Having avoided the knockout playoffs last term, Internazionale will have to get past Bodø/Glimt if they are to make it to the last 16 once again.
I Nerazzurri lost three games in a row in the second half of the league phase campaign, ultimately costing them a place in the top eight. Last season’s finalists kept four clean sheets across their eight matches, with Arsenal being the only team to concede less than their seven. They have never been beaten versus Norwegian opposition (3-1-0), having eliminated their opponents in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
Bodø pulled off a miracle to get to this point. Having not won any of their first six games, victories in both of their ties last month were enough to send them through. The win in Madrid three weeks ago ended a run of nine away games without success (0-3-6). Runner ups in the Eliteserien last year, Bodø knocked out Lazio in the Europa League quarterfinals in 2024/25.
Prediction: Internazionale
Atlético Madrid will be in for a tricky knockout playoff tie as they face Club Brugge.
Los Rojiblancos failed to win either of their last two league phase matches, dropping them to the knockout playoffs. However, save for a 4-0 reverse to Arsenal back on matchday 3, they did score in their other seven matches. Atleti also topped Union Saint-Gilloise during the league phase with a 3-1 home win. That was their fourth win in nine versus Belgian opposition (4-1-4).
Club has had no problems advancing from the Champions League group phase over the last few years. This is the third appearance in a row in which they got past that round, and will be looking to make it to the round of 16 once again. They stunned Atalanta 12 months ago, winning both legs. Blauw-Zwart were also involved in a 3-3 thriller with Barcelona back on matchday 4. They have kept a clean sheet against Atleti in each of their last three head-to-heads.
Prediction: Atlético Madrid
Four weeks on from their league phase clash, Bayer Leverkusen will have to try and get past Olympiakos Piraeus, something they were unable to do last month.
The German side won three of their last five league phase games, which propelled them into the top 24. However, their only defeat during that time did come on the penultimate matchday against the side they are facing. They have lost both head-to-heads played in Greece, with their only win coming in the home leg of their 2002/03 group stage match.
It is a long-awaited return to knockout football in the Champions League for Olympiakos, who last featured this late in the competition back in 2013/14. They have lost both of their two-legged ties against German clubs in the European Cup, losing to Bayern Munich in 1980/81 and Hamburg two years later. The last time they prevailed in a round of 32/knockout playoffs tie was in the Europa League in 2020/21 versus PSV.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen
