Champions League knockout rounds: Bracket, key dates, more - ESPN

The draw for the knockout playoff round of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League featured some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Now that it's complete, we know who the likes of Real Madrid and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will be facing with a spot in the round of 16 on the line.

But which teams look to have the best path through the knockout rounds? How is the rest of the bracket shaping up?

Here's everything you need to know about Champions League knockouts.

Only the 16 teams that finished ninth through 24th in the league phase will compete in this round.

The top eight teams in the league phase advanced directly to the round of 16, and clubs finishing 25th to 36th were eliminated.

The first legs of each matchup will be held Feb. 17-18. The second legs will be contested the following week, on Feb. 24-25.

The teams that placed ninth to 16th are listed second, and they will have the advantage of playing at home in the second leg.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta

Benfica vs. Real Madrid

AS Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Galatasaray vs. Juventus

Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid

FK Qarabag vs. Newcastle United

Bodo/Glimt vs. Internazionale

Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen

After the playoff round draw, the teams who finished inside the top eight in the league phase still have four possible opponents in the round of 16.

The knockout playoff round will whittle the number of potential opponents to two. But the exact matchups won't be known until the round-of-16 draw.

Possible round-of-16 ties:

Arsenal or Bayern Munich will play one of the winners of:
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos

Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur will play one of the winners of:
Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid
Galatasara