UCL: Play-Off Round Returns With Seven League-Phase Places Up For Grabs

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League play-off round returns this week, with seven places in the league phase up for grabs as 14 clubs battle for a place in Europe’s premier club competition.

According to UEFA Champions League, the play-off round features five ties in the Champions Path and two in the League Path, with the first legs scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the Champions Path, Levski Sofia will face AEK Athens on Tuesday, while GNK Dinamo take on Viking. Slovan Bratislava will meet Celje on Wednesday, with Hapoel Be’er Sheva facing Sabah on the same day.

Celtic will also begin their play-off campaign on Wednesday against LASK as the Scottish giants look to secure their place in the league phase.

The League Path features two high-profile ties, with Fenerbahçe hosting Lyon on Tuesday, while NEC will face Bodø/Glimt on Wednesday.

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The winners of the seven two-legged ties will advance to the 2026/27 Champions League league phase, joining the clubs that have already secured qualification.

With so much at stake, the play-off round promises to deliver another set of crucial European nights as clubs fight to reach the main stage of the competition.

Full list of fixtures:

Champions Path

Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens — Tuesday, August 18
Dinamo Zagreb vs Viking — Tuesday, August 18
Celtic vs LASK — Wednesday, August 19
Slovan Bratislava vs Celje — Wednesday, August 19
Hapoel Be’er Sheva vs Sabah — Wednesday, August 19

League Path

Fenerbahçe vs Lyon — Tuesday, August 18
NEC Nijmegen vs Bodø/Glimt — Wednesday, August 19