A new chapter begins in Europe’s second‑tier club competition as 16 teams prepare for a two‑leg sprint to the last 16. The league phase has delivered its top eight — the seeds — and now the drama shifts to the play‑offs, where underdogs and heavyweights alike will battle for the remaining spots in the knockout rounds.
The Big Picture: Who’s Already Through
Eight clubs have already secured their places in the last 16 and will await the play‑off winners. Those seeded sides are Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, Freiburg and Roma, each guaranteed a tie against one of the eight play‑off victors.
How the Play‑Offs Work
The teams finishing 9th to 24th in the league phase are paired into two‑legged play‑offs. Winners of those ties become the unseeded sides in the last 16 and are matched against the top eight according to the competition’s bracket.
Each club already knows which path it occupies based on its league finish, but the exact opponents will be revealed at the play‑off draw. Clubs from the same country can meet at this stage, and repeat pairings from the league phase are permitted.
Who is in the play-offs?
The 16 teams vying for a place in the last 16 are...
- 9th: Genk
- 10th: Bologna
- 11th: Stuttgart
- 12th: Ferencvaros
- 13th: Nottingham Forest
- 14th: Plzen
- 15th: Crvena Zvezda
- 16th: Celta Vigo
- 17th: PAOK
- 18th: Lille
- 19th: Fenerbache
- 20th: Panathinaikos
- 21st: Celtic
- 22nd: Ludogorets
- 23rd: Dinamo Zagreb
- 24th: Brann Bergen
Key Matchups to Watch
• Nottingham Forest will discover on draw day whether they face Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos. The winner of that tie will then meet either Midtjylland or Real Betis in the last 16.
• Celtic are set to play either Stuttgart or Ferencvaros, with the victorious side slated to face Porto or Braga next.
Dates and Draws
• Play‑off draw: From UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland on Friday 30 January, scheduled for 12:00pm UK time.
• Play‑off matches: Two legs on 19 February and 26 February.
• Last 16, quarter‑final and semi‑final draw: To follow on 27 February, once the play‑off winners are known.
