While FC Bayern has already qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League, BVB and Bayer Leverkusen have to make it to the playoffs in the Champions League. Will there even be a direct duel there?
sport.de will accompany the Champions League playoff draw on Friday from 12:00 p.m. in the LIVE ticker here.
+++ Here we go +++
All those responsible in Nyon are ready. The draw begins. These are the playoff pairings:
SL Benfica –
FK Bodo/Glimt –
AS Monaco –
Qarabag –
Galatasaray –
Club Brugge –
Borussia Dortmund – Atalanta
Olympiacos Piraeus – Bayer Leverkusen
+++ Ex-Arsenal star as lottery ticket +++
Ex-Arsenal star Robert Pires is the lottery ticket today. The 52-year-old Frenchman enters the stage. Pires explains that he believes the Gunners can win the title.
+++ The mode +++
Now the mode will be explained again. As a reminder: The top 8 from the league phase are already in the round of 16. Positions 9 to 24 go into the playoffs. The higher placed team has the home advantage in the second leg.
+++ Excitement in Nyon +++
UEFA opens the draw in Nyon, Switzerland. First, we will look back at the league phase on site.
+++ It’s about to start +++
Only a few minutes left until the Champions League draw. Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern are looking forward to Nyon.
+++ These scenarios are possible in the Champions League +++
With FC Bayern, BVB and Bayer Leverkusen there are still three German players in the Champions League. These scenarios are possible for the Bundesliga trio:
FC Bayern (directly in the round of 16)
Possible opponents (first away game): Atalanta Bergamo, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos Piraeus
Bayer Leverkusen (in the playoffs)
Possible opponents (first away game): Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos Piraeus
Borussia Dortmund (in the playoffs)
Possible opponents (first home game): Atalanta Bergamo, Bayer Leverkusen
+++ Bayer Leverkusen and BVB in a direct duel? +++
Bayer Leverkusen secured 16th place in the table with a 3-0 win against Villarreal on the last matchday of the league phase. The Rhinelanders initially compete away from home in the playoffs and have the home advantage in the subsequent second leg.
Borussia Dortmund, however, lost 2-0 to Inter Milan on Wednesday and slipped to 17th place in the table. As a result, BVB has to play away from home in the decisive duel.
The black and yellow could face Bayer Leverkusen in the playoffs. A meeting with FC Bayern Munich would be possible for BVB in the round of 16. Borussia Dortmund could alternatively face Atalanta Bergamo (playoffs) and Arsenal (round of 16).
Bayer Leverkusen’s second potential playoff opponent is Olympiacos Piraeus. In the round of 16, the Werkself could face FC Bayern or Arsenal.
+++ Real Madrid and PSG in the playoffs +++
The Champions League continues with the playoffs. With defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Juventus Turin, several top international players have to take the detour via the intermediate round.
FC Arsenal, FC Bayern, FC Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, FC Chelsea, Sporting CP and Manchester City are already in the round of 16.
After the playoffs there will be another draw. The round of 16 pairings will be decided on February 27th. The tournament tree also determines the possible duels in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
