Newcastle will face Qarabag in the Champions League playoff round, while Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham have discovered their potential last 16 opponents
Nathan Ridley
17:28, 30 Jan 2026
The draw for the Champions League playoffs has been made
The draw for the Champions League playoffs has been made(Image: Getty Images)
Newcastle will take on Qarabag in the Champions League playoff round, while the five other English clubs - including Liverpool - have discovered more about their potential last 16 adversaries.
Eddie Howe's players were the sole Premier League outfit unable to secure a top-eight finish in the competition's opening phase. Despite battling to an admirable 1-1 draw away at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Newcastle slipped out of the automatic qualification spots.
The Magpies will now embark on the lengthy journey to Azerbaijan next month before welcoming Qarabag for the second leg at St. James' Park. Should they progress, Howe's players will meet either Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
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Wednesday proved dramatic as the final 18 fixtures of the league phase kicked off at the same time.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich were the only two sides to have already secured their round of 16 berths.
Liverpool and Tottenham confirmed their progression with commanding victories, while Barcelona and Chelsea both overturned deficits to clinch their places in the top eight.
The Reds are into the last 16
The Reds are into the last 16(Image: Getty Images)
Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City also joined them, whereas Real Madrid suffered a 4-2 defeat to Benfica, missing out on automatic qualification.
As fate would have it, Real has been handed an opportunity for redemption against Jose Mourinho's outfit in the playoffs.
PSG will face an additional round for the second consecutive year. The French team is set to play Monaco on the opposite side of Newcastle's bracket, with either Barcelona or Chelsea potentially waiting in the wings.
Inter Milan, who made it to last year's final, has been drawn against Bodo/Glimt.
Friday's draw provides English clubs with a slightly clearer picture of their potential round of 16 opponents.
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For instance, Arsenal will face the victor of either Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta or Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen, having previously known the four teams they could potentially meet, but not the specific pairings.
Liverpool and Tottenham's adversaries will be the winners of Galatasaray vs. Juventus or Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid. City will take on the winner of Benfica vs. Real or Bodo/Glimt vs. Inter.
Here's the full Champions League playoff draw
Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Bodo/Glimt vs. Inter Milan
Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag vs. Newcastle
Galatasaray vs. Juventus
Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
Olympiacos vs. Bayer Leverkusen