The UEFA Champions League knockout phase is heating up as the second-leg playoff matches are set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With only eight spots available in the Round of 16, the 16 competing teams will battle it out for their last chance to stay in the tournament.

Champions League Playoff Teams

The 16 teams currently fighting for a place in the next round are:

• Monaco, Benfica, Celtic, Bayern Munich, Feyenoord, AC Milan, Brest, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, Club Brugge, and Atalanta.

Only eight of these teams will progress to join the already-qualified Barcelona, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16.

Champions League Second-Leg Playoff Fixtures

Tuesday’s Matches:

🔹 Atalanta vs Club Brugge (Italy)

First Leg Result: Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta

Atalanta must overturn their first-leg defeat. They come off a goalless draw with Cagliari, while Club Brugge recently played a 2-2 draw against STVV.

🔹 Benfica vs Monaco (Portugal)

First Leg Result: Benfica 1-0 Monaco

Benfica carries a narrow lead into the second leg. Monaco, fresh from a 7-1 win over Nantes, will look to break their winless streak against the Portuguese giants.

🔹 Bayern Munich vs Celtic (Germany)

First Leg Result: Bayern 2-1 Celtic

Bayern aims to seal the deal at home, having drawn 0-0 with Bayer Leverkusen recently. Celtic, who defeated Dundee United 3-0, have never beaten Bayern in five previous meetings.

🔹 AC Milan vs Feyenoord (Italy)

First Leg Result: Feyenoord 1-0 AC Milan

Milan seeks redemption at San Siro after their first-leg loss. Their recent 1-0 win over Verona could boost their morale, while Feyenoord comes off a goalless draw with NAC.

Wednesday’s Matches:

🔹 Paris Saint-Germain vs Brest (France)

First Leg Result: PSG 3-0 Brest

With a comfortable lead, PSG is on track to qualify. They defeated Toulouse 1-0 in Ligue 1, while Brest drew 2-2 with Auxerre. Brest has never beaten PSG in 22 meetings.

🔹 PSV Eindhoven vs Juventus (Netherlands)

First Leg Result: Juventus 2-1 PSV

Juventus, buoyed by a 1-0 win over Inter Milan, looks to maintain their unbeaten record against PSV, who recently drew 2-2 with Utrecht.

🔹 Real Madrid vs Manchester City (Spain)

First Leg Result: Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City

The Santiago Bernabeu hosts a blockbuster clash. Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna contrasts with City’s dominant 4-0 win over Newcastle. With five wins in their last 14 meetings, City has a tough task ahead.

🔹 Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting CP (Germany)

First Leg Result: Dortmund 3-0 Sporting CP

Dortmund looks set to advance despite a 2-0 loss to Bochum. Sporting, who drew 2-2 with Arouca, has only beaten Dortmund once in five attempts.

Expert Prediction: Who Will Qualify?

Wakanda FC coach, Orode Richard, shared his thoughts ahead of the crucial matches:

“It’s now getting more interesting at this stage of the competition. It’s a judgment day for the teams because failing to win means elimination.”

When asked about potential qualifiers, he highlighted PSG and Dortmund as near-certainties due to their commanding first-leg victories. He also tipped Juventus, Bayern, Benfica, Feyenoord, and possibly Atalanta to make it to the Round of 16.

Final Thoughts

With the stakes at their highest, football fans can expect intense clashes as these teams fight for survival in the UEFA Champions League. Which clubs will secure their spot in the Round of 16? Stay tuned for all the action!