Champions League intermediate round
Will there be a German duel? These two opponents threaten BVB
01/29/2026 – 7:33 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
In the new Champions League format, there is no longer a classic draw for the knockout phase. So the German teams already know who they could face.
As a result, BVB missed the direct entry into the round of 16, which would previously have been possible. Bayer Leverkusen, on the other hand, could have even slipped out of the top 24. With the win against Villarreal, the “Werkself” secured their place in the second round. In fact, Leverkusen (16th) even moved past Dortmund (17th).
Due to the Champions League reform, it is already clear which two teams are threatening the two German participants in the intermediate round. The special thing is that they could meet each other. Because in the new system, two neighboring teams always form a pair. As 17th, Dortmund forms a pair with 18th – Olympiacos Piraeus. Bayer Leverkusen in 16th forms a pair with 15th – Atalanta Bergamo.
The play-off pairings will be drawn from exactly these two pairs on Friday (from 12 p.m.). Leverkusen will face either Dortmund or Piraeus. BVB either on Bayer or on Bergamo.
The games are played in February. The first legs will take place on February 17th and 18th, the second legs a week later (24th/25th). The subsequent round of 16 games are in March.
Dortmund or Leverkusen could then meet FC Bayern there, because they will definitely challenge one of the other two German teams, Bergamo or Piraeus.
