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Champions League Final Matchday Will Set Direct Qualifiers and Play-Off Field

Under the expanded ligaphase, places 1–8 reach the last 16, 9–24 go to February play-offs, and 25–36 are eliminated.

Overview

  • All 18 games kick off Wednesday, 28 January, at 21:00 CET, with DAZN showing an XXL conference and single-match feeds in Germany.
  • Bayern, already through, aim to protect second place before visiting PSV Eindhoven, and coach Vincent Kompany plans to use February’s break to ready the squad.
  • Borussia Dortmund sit on 11 points before hosting Inter Milan and can still finish in the top eight, drop into the play-offs, or, in a worst-case scenario, be eliminated.
  • Bayer Leverkusen have nine points and host Villarreal with outcomes ranging from the play-offs to an early exit, while Eintracht Frankfurt are already out.
  • PSG face Newcastle with both on 13 points and the loser at risk of the play-off pool; UEFA will draw the play-offs Friday in Nyon for ties on 17/18 and 24/25 February, with the last 16 in March and the final on 30 May in Budapest.