The Champions League first phase has done its sorting, the first legs have done their damage, and now comes the fun part: eight ties, eight different moods, and one shared truth. Nobody gets rescued by an away-goals rule anymore. If it’s level on aggregate, you are going the long way via extra time and maybe penalties.
By the end of this week, the round of 16 bracket will be set. Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting CP and Tottenham are already waiting. Everyone else has one more night to earn a seat at the table.
Champions League Playoffs bring unrelenting chaos
Atletico vs Club Brugge (3-3)
The first leg was chaotic in the way that only Atlético in Europe can be when they lose control of the defensive tempo. Brugge were brave, Atlético were sharp in bursts, and the scoreline has left us with the best kind of second leg: no maths, no hedging, just win the match.
Team news and selection themes: Brugge travel without Raphael Onyedika, suspended after reaching the yellow-card limit. That matters because he was central to their first-leg rhythm, both in pressing and in recovery transitions. Atlético’s focus is simpler: tighten spacing between the lines and avoid the cheap turnovers that turned the first leg into a track meet.
Key stats: Atlético have been formidable at home in knockout football over the last decade, with a heavy skew toward clean sheets and narrow-margin wins. Brugge have shown recent confidence against Spanish opposition but historically find Spanish away days stubborn and low-scoring.
Leverkusen vs Olympiacos (Leverkusen lead 2-0)
Leverkusen did the classic European away job in Athens: absorb the early heat, then land decisive punches once the game stretched. Patrik Schick’s brace has given them a two-goal cushion and, more importantly, control over the emotional temperature of the return leg.
Key stats: Leverkusen’s record in two-legged ties after winning the first leg is excellent, and they have consistently closed out ties when carrying a two-goal advantage. Olympiacos have never overturned a two-goal deficit in the Champions League era.
Recent form and key players: Schick is the headline after the first leg, but this tie is really about Leverkusen’s midfield compactness when Olympiacos start forcing crosses and second balls. If the Germans score first, it is essentially finished. If Olympiacos score first, you will suddenly see nerves and hurried clearances.
Inter vs Bodø/Glimt (Bodø/Glimt lead 3-1)
Bodø/Glimt are making a habit of turning famous shirts into anxious opponents. The first leg was not a fluke smash-and-grab. They created, they ran, they punished mistakes, and they took a two-goal lead that gives them real leverage in Milan.
Team news and selection themes: Inter’s plan will be direct: start fast, score early, and drag this into the kind of structured pressure game where set pieces and second phases become relentless. Bodø/Glimt’s counter-plan is just as clear: survive the first wave and keep the away-goal threat alive, because one strike forces Inter to score three.
Key stats: Inter have a strong recent record in two-legged Champions League ties and tend to handle home legs well. Bodø/Glimt are chasing history as the first Norwegian club to win a Champions League knockout tie and arrive with genuine belief after multiple statement results in this run.
✨ History Makers! 💪
— 365Scores (@365Scores) February 19, 2026
Bodø/Glimt become the first team from outside Europe’s top five leagues to win three consecutive matches in a UEFA Champions League campaign since Zenit did it back in 2015 👏🔥 pic.twitter.com/kaqGqhQB9J
Newcastle vs Qarabağ (Newcastle lead 6-1)
This is the tie most likely to feel decided, but it still has a job: finish cleanly, avoid suspensions, and leave with legs intact. Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon-inspired six-goal first-leg burst was the kind of European night that becomes club folklore.
Team news and selection themes: With the cushion, rotation is possible, but the message inside the camp is about professionalism rather than treating it like an exhibition. Squad fitness management also matters, so this is a useful match to distribute minutes without losing structure.
Anthony Gordon is only the 2nd English footballer in Champions League history to score in double-digits, after Harry Kane last season. Kane finished with 11 goals, Goedon currently has 10. Can he overtake the Theee Lions’ captain? pic.twitter.com/ogFWSCD2sl
— 365Scores (@365Scores) February 19, 2026
Atalanta vs Dortmund (Dortmund lead 2-0)
Dortmund handled the first leg smartly: early goal, controlled aggression, and a second before Atalanta could reset the storyline. Now comes the tricky part, because a two-goal lead can make teams protect rather than attack.
Key stats: Atalanta have never lost four straight matches in UEFA competition. Dortmund are almost perfect in two-legged ties when holding a two-goal first-leg lead. Serhou Guirassy’s scoring rate in this campaign has been elite (four goals, three assists).
Recent form and key players: Atalanta arrive with domestic momentum after a late win over Napoli extended an unbeaten run. They will need that belief. Dortmund’s route is obvious: absorb pressure, then exploit the spaces Atalanta must open.
Juventus vs Galatasaray (Galatasaray lead 5-2)
The first leg in Istanbul was a collapse disguised as a thriller. Juventus were competitive, then stretched, then lost composure, and suddenly faced a three-goal hole. Galatasaray’s five-goal night has left Juventus needing something close to perfect.
Team news and selection themes: Juventus are without Juan Cabal after his red card, forcing defensive reshaping. The tactical dilemma is brutal: push aggressively and risk conceding the goal that ends it, or build slowly and risk running out of time.
Key stats: Juventus have struggled in recent Champions League knockout ties and have not overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit in the modern era. Galatasaray have historically closed out UEFA ties when carrying this margin.
PSG vs Monaco (PSG lead 3-2)
A domestic European tie always has a strange edge. Familiarity removes mystery and replaces it with detail: pressing triggers, set-piece matchups, second-ball zones. Monaco’s job is clear because the margin is only one goal.
Team news and selection themes: PSG intend to keep their territorial dominance rather than sit on the lead. Monaco must decide how early to chase the equaliser without giving PSG the open-field transitions they thrive on.
Key stats: PSG have a very strong record in two-legged ties after winning the first leg, particularly when that victory came away from home. Monaco’s recent two-legged European record is poor, and away Champions League results have been inconsistent.
Recent form and key players: Folarin Balogun has been prolific in this campaign and again shaped the first leg. For Monaco, the simplest route to drama is an early goal, because it forces PSG to abandon management and play the match.
Real Madrid vs Benfica (Real lead 1-0)
This one carries pure European tension. Real Madrid have a narrow lead and the kind of knockout pedigree that makes narrow feel large. Benfica are still firmly alive, because one goal flips the tie.
Team news and selection themes: Benfica travel without winger Gianluca Prestianni, provisionally suspended after he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Jr in the previous fixture (see article below), and manager José Mourinho, banned from the touchline. Those absences reduce both attacking depth and sideline influence. Real Madrid’s plan is familiar: controlled possession, then lethal transition when Benfica stretch.
Key stats: Real Madrid have won the vast majority of recent two-legged Champions League ties and rarely waste an away first-leg victory. Benfica’s recent away record in Spain is unforgiving.
FAQs
Do away goals count as a tiebreaker in the Champions League Playoffs?
No, not anymore. If the aggregate score is level after 90 minutes in the second leg, it goes to extra time and then penalties.
When is the Champions League round of 16 draw?
Friday 27 February 2026.
Who is already through to the Champions League round of 16?
Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting CP and Tottenham.
When is the Champions League final?
30 May 2026 in Budapest.
Which Champions League tie is most likely to swing late?
Atlético vs Club Brugge, because it starts level and both teams have clear attacking routes that can flip momentum quickly.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyHelfgott1 on Twitter (X)
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