Champions League Playoffs: Giants Clash for Last-16 Spots

Terhillah David

February 11, 2025

Champions League Playoffs: Giants Clash for Last-16 Spots

The stage is set for the inaugural UEFA Champions League

knockout phase playoffs.

The playoffs kick off this week, with European heavyweights vying for a place in the Champions League Round of 16.

The first legs will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday (11th and 12th), with the return legs taking place next Tuesday and Wednesday (18th and 19th).

The stage is set for the inaugural UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs.

The playoffs kick off this week, with European heavyweights vying for a place in the Champions League Round of 16.

The first legs of the fixtures are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (11th and 12th), with return legs next Tuesday and Wednesday (18th and 19th), respectively.

Sixteen teams will participate in the playoffs–Brest, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, Club Brugge, Atalanta, Monaco, Benfica, Celtic, Bayern Munich, Feyenoord, and AC Milan.

Naijaeyes reports that only eight teams out of the sixteen teams will qualify to join the other eight teams already in the Round of 16 stage.

After the completion of the group-stage fixtures last month, the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, Leverkusen, Lille, and Liverpool were all confirmed in the last-16 line-up.

Here are the fixtures for the Champions League playoffs:

Tuesday Matches:

Brest vs Paris Saint-Germain: Brest is in poor form in the Champions League as they won only two home games at Stade du Roudourou. PSG is in good form in the competition, winning two away games. Brest have never won against PSG in their last twenty meetings.

Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven: Juventus have been in mixed Champions League form this season, winning two home matches at the Allianz Stadium. PSV have also been in good form in the Champions League, winning one away match. Juventus have never lost to PSV in their last one encounter.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: The Premier League champions have not been in great form in the Champions League this season with only two home wins at the Etihad.

Stadium. Real Madrid has been in original form in the Champions League where they have won two away matches. Man City has won five of their last 13 matches with Real Madrid.

Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund: Sporting CP has shown poor performance at the Champions League level as they have only won two home games in Estádio José Alvalade. Similarly, Dortmund is as well doing good and has recorded two away wins. In their last four encounters against Dortmund, Sporting has only managed to win once.

Club Brugge vs Atalanta: Club Brugge is with a mixed record in Champions League where they have won two home games in Jan Breydelstadion. Atalanta is also doing well in the competition- winning three games away.

Monaco vs Benfica: Monaco did not lose in the last successful matches in the Champions League, where they won three home matches at Stade Louis II. Benfica is also going well in mixed performances, as they have recorded three away wins. In their last three meetings, Monaco has never been able to get a win against Benfica.

Celtic vs Bayern Munich: Celtic is in mixed conditions in the Champions League as they boast three home wins at Celtic Park. Bayern Munich is still famous in the Champions League as they have won only one out of the last four away matches. Celtic has never defeated Bayern in their four previous meetings.

Feyenoord vs AC Milan: Feyenoord is in a mixed situation in the Champions League, winning two home matches at Stadion Feijenoord, while Milan is also doing pretty well in this competition with their two away matches. They have beaten each other once, though.

He spoke with Naijaeyes on Monday as a respected journalist and gave his opinion in the very first edition of knockout phase playoffs of the UEFA Champions League.

He also went on to predict the eight teams, which, according to him, would eventually cross his hands to reach the Round of 16.

How about you, do you think this is the first in the history of UEFA Champions League for the knockout phase playoffs?

Fabunmi stated, “On a personal note, I really do not fancy this New Format, but it looks like it has come to stay. Most of us at home do not even get what it pays by logic for the teams to play in away and home matches.”

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