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The Champions League league phase concluded on January 28 with all games kicking off at the same time.
Teams were vying for a coveted spot in the top eight, which guarantees an automatic place in the Round of 16 draw. Those sides that finished from ninth to 24th in the standings entered the knockout-playoff round, meaning their chances of progressing deep into the competition were far from over.
The tournament took only a brief pause following the end of the league phase, with those teams who progressed not having long to wait before the knockout rounds begin.
Here, we pick through the all-important dates for 2025/26.
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Champions League knockout dates 2025/26
The knockout phase of this season's Champions League began in February and runs until the final at the end of May.
- Knockout phase playoffs: February 17/18 and February 24/25
- Round of 16: March 10/11 and March 17/18
- Quarterfinals: April 7/8 and April 14/15
- Semifinals: April 28/29 and May 5/6
- Final: May 30, 2026
MORE: Details of knockout-phase playoff draw
Schedule of matches for 2025/26 Champions League knockouts
The below sections will be updated once the relevant draws have taken place, and the fixture schedule and bracket has been determined.
MORE: Complete list of teams in Round of 16 and knockout playoffs
Knockout playoffs
The knockout-playoff schedule was determined by the draw on Friday, January 30.
The first legs took place over February 17/18, with the return games a week later on February 24/25.
1st legs
| Date | Match |
| Feb. 17 | Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid |
| Feb. 17 | Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus |
| Feb. 17 | Monaco 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain |
| Feb. 17 | Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Atalanta |
| Feb. 18 | Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle United |
| Feb. 18 | Club Brugge 3-3 Atletico Madrid |
| Feb. 18 | Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter Milan |
| Feb. 18 | Olympiacos 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen |
2nd legs
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Feb. 24 | 12:45 p.m. | Atletico Madrid 4-1 Club Brugge |
| Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | Newcastle United 3-2 Qarabag |
| Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | Inter Milan 1-2 Bodo/Glimt |
| Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Olympiacos |
| Feb. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Atalanta (0) vs. (2) Borussia Dortmund |
| Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | Juventus (2) vs. (5) Galatasaray |
| Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | Paris Saint-Germain (3) vs. (2) Monaco |
| Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | Real Madrid (1) vs. (0) Benfica |
Round of 16
The draw to map out the Round of 16, and the rest of the knockout bracket, took place on February 27.
Round of 16 — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Mar. 10 | 1:45 p.m. | M4: Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool |
| Mar. 10 | 2 p.m. | M5: Newcastle United 1-1 Barcelona |
| Mar. 10 | 2 p.m. | M3: Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham |
| Mar. 10 | 2 p.m. | M2: Atalanta 1-6 Bayern Munich |
| Mar. 11 | 1:45 p.m. | M1: Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal |
| Mar. 11 | 2 p.m. | M6: PSG 5-2 Chelsea |
| Mar. 11 | 2 p.m. | M7: Bodo/Glimt 3-0 Sporting CP |
| Mar. 11 | 2 p.m. | M8: Real Madrid 3-0 Man City |
Round of 16 — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Mar. 17 | 1:45 p.m. | M7: Sporting CP vs. Bodo/Glimt |
| Mar. 17 | 2 p.m. | M6: Chelsea vs. PSG |
| Mar. 17 | 2 p.m. | M8: Man City vs. Real Madrid |
| Mar. 17 | 2 p.m. | M1: Arsenal vs. Bayer Leverkusen |
| Mar. 18 | 1:45 p.m. | M5: Barcelona vs. Newcastle United |
| Mar. 18 | 2 p.m. | M3: Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid |
| Mar. 18 | 2 p.m. | M4: Liverpool vs. Galatasaray |
| Mar. 18 | 2 p.m. | M2: Bayern Munich vs. Atalanta |
Quarterfinals
The quarterfinal ties are scheduled to be played over April 7-8 and April 14-15.
Quarterfinals — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Semifinals
The semifinal first legs are to be played on April 28-29, with the second legs over May 5-6.
Semifinals — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 28-29 | SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF4 | |
| Apr. 28-29 | SF2: Winner, QF2 vs. Winner, QF3 |
Semifinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| May 5-6 | SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF4 | |
| May 5-6 | SF2: Winner, QF2 vs. Winner, QF3 |
Final
The Champions League final is on May 30 and will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| May 30 | 3 p.m. | SF1: Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2 | Puskas Arena (Budapest, Hungary) |
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