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Champions League draw live: Newcastle, Real Madrid and PSG learn knockout play-off opponents

The Champions League reaches the knockout phase, with five of the Premier League sides waiting in the last 16, while Newcastle tackle the play-offs, as do Real Madrid and holders PSG

Mourinho's magic shows classic glory and modern problem with the new Champions League

The Champions League knockout phase play-offs are here, with the finale to the league phase producing late drama with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica stunning Real Madrid.

Five of the six Premier League sides in the competition have progressed already to the last 16, with Newcastle forced to settle for a play-off tie, despite an admirable stalemate at holders Paris Saint-Germain.

Eddie Howe’s men will take on Qarabag in the play-off rounds having been drawn on the nicer side of the bracket but they will end up facing Chelsea or Barcelona in the last-16 should they get through.

Other headline fixtures see Mourinho’s Benfica taking on Real once again but this time over two legs while Borussia Dortmund face Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain have an all-French tie against Monaco.

Find all the results from the draw, the schedule and reaction to the draw in Nyon, Switzerland:

Newcastle given favourable draw as Champions League knockout play-off fixtures confirmed

Newcastle will face Qarabag for a place in the Champions League round of 16 after the draw for the knockout play-offs was confirmed.

A final day draw with Paris Saint-Germain secured a 12th placed finish in the league phase for Eddie Howe’s side, which has now resulted in a tie with the first Azerbaijani club to reach the knockout rounds of the competition.

Newcastle given kind draw as Champions League knockout play-off fixtures confirmed

The eight ties for the play-off round have been confirmed
Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:45

What will the round of 16 ties look like?

Here are the combinations for the round of 16 fixtures:

Will face Porto or Braga:

  • Stuttgart vs Celtic

Or

  • Ferencvaros vs Ludogorets

Will face Midtjylland or Real Betis:

Or

  • Viktoria Plzen vs Panathinaikos

Will face Lyon or Aston Villa:

  • Red Star Belgrade vs Lille

Or

  • Celta Viga vs PAOK

Will face Freiburg or Roma:

  • Dinamo Zagreb vs Genk

Or

  • Brann vs Bologna
Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:42

When is the round of 16 draw?

The eight teams that advance from the knockout phase play-offs will be in the draw for the round of 16, along with those who directly qualified.

That draw will take place on Friday 27 February.

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:36

When will the knockout phase play-off ties take place?

Matches will take place over two legs, with the seeded team set to play the return leg at home.

First legs will be played on 19 February and second legs are slated to take place on 26 February.

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:31

Europa League play-off draw

Here is the play-off round draw in full:

Ludogorets vs Ferencvaros

Panathinaikos vs Viktoria Plzen

GNK Dinamo vs Genk

PAOK vs Celta

Celtic vs Stuttgart

Fenerbahce vs Nottingham Forest

SK Brann vs Bologna

Lille vs Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda)

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:22

Europa League play-off draw

GNK Dinamo Zagreb will host Genk.

Finally, SK Brann take on Bologna.

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:20

Europa League play-off draw

Ludogoret’s opponents in the play-off round will be Ferencvaros.

Celtic will take on Stuttgart. A tricky tie for the Scottish side.

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:19

Europa League play-off draw

Panathinaikos are taking on Viktoria Plzen.

Which means that Fenerbahce host Nottingham Forest.

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:18

Europa League play-off draw

The first complete knockout round fixture is...

... PAOK vs Real Club Celta.

Lille take on Red Star Belgrade.

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:17

Europa League play-off draw

The last two unseeded teams are PAOK and Lille.

PAOK are drawn into the silver side, Lille in the orange.

Now we’ll see who plays who...

Mike Jones30 January 2026 12:16

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