Places in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League are up for grabs in the play-off round.
The final seven places in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League will be decided in the play-off round, with the first legs played on 19/20 August and the deciders on 26/27 August.
UEFA.com picks out the key storylines and stats ahead of the second legs.
How does the play-off round work?
Fourteen teams are involved in the play-off round: ten from the Champions Path (four enter in this round, along with the six winners of the third qualifying round) and four from the League Path.
The winners of each tie advance to the league phase of the Champions League while defeated sides switch to the league phase of the UEFA Europa League.
Tuesday 26 August
Kairat Almaty vs Celtic (18:45 CET, first leg: 0-0)
Scottish champions Celtic entered the play-off round with hopes of guaranteeing a 14th participation in the Champions League proper and their fourth in a row. Brendan Rodgers' men impressed in the competition last season, ranking 21st in the league phase.
Kairat Almaty, meanwhile, are dreaming of their first progress to the league phase/group stage of the competition. There was nothing to choose between the two sides in the first leg in Glasgow, both teams missing chances to take the advantage to leave it all to play for in the Kazakhstan return.
This is Celtic's 40th European Cup/UEFA Champions League participation. Only five other teams have reached that total.
Pafos vs Crvena Zvezda (first leg: 2-1)
Crvena Zvezda finished 29th in the inaugural league phase of the Champions League last season, while Pafos made history by reaching the round of 16 in the UEFA Conference League and thereby extending their campaign to a Cypriot-record 16 European games.
Pafos, taking part in their first ever Champions League campaign, moved a step closer to a historic qualification for the league phase following a 2-1 first-leg win in Serbia, João Correia scoring in the first minute and Pêpê doubling the lead from the spot before Bruno Duarte reduced the deficit to offer Crvena Zvezda hope.
This tie is the first UEFA competition meeting between these teams and a first encounter with a Serbian team for Pafos.
Sturm Graz vs Bodø/Glimt (first leg: 0-5)
Fresh off a record-breaking season in the Europa League in which they reached the semi-finals, Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt are now eyeing a first participation in the Champions League proper. Sturm Graz, meanwhile, finished 30th in the Champions League league phase last season, but have lost their last four qualifying ties in the competition.
Bodø put in a stunning performance in the first leg in Norway to secure a thumping 5-0 win, with Kasper Høgh, Odin Bjørtuft, Ulrik Saltnes and Håkon Evjen scoring before a William Bøving own goal. Is there any way back for Sturm in the return?
Sturm's only previous UEFA encounters against a Norwegian opponent were against Haugesund in the second qualifying round of the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League. They lost 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 home victory.
Wednesday 27 August
Qarabağ vs Ferencváros (18:45 CET, first leg: 3-1)
Ferencváros and Qarabağ arrived in the play-offs after compelling victories in the third qualifying round. Robbie Keane's side defeated Ludogorets 3-0 in the Budapest decider after a goalless first leg, while the Azerbaijani club beat Shkëndija 6-1 on aggregate.
The hosts looked set to take a first-leg advantage after Barnabás Varga gave Ferencváros a first-half lead, but Qarabağ roared back in the second period as strikes from Musa Gurbanli, Kevin Medina and Marko Janković put Gurban Gurbanov's team in the ascendency.
Ferencváros last reached the Champions League proper in 2020/21, while Qarabağ's last group stage/league phase participation was in 2017/18.
Copenhagen vs Basel (first leg: 1-1)
Basel entered at the play-off round after capturing the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup in 2024/25. Those triumphs were overseen by Fabio Celestini, but now it is the turn of June appointment Ludovic Magnin to make his mark. Copenhagen also completed a domestic double in Denmark last season and arrived in the play-off round with confidence flowing after sweeping past Malmö with a 5-0 win in the third qualifying round decider at Parken.
Veteran captain Xherdan Shaqiri gave Basel the lead from the penalty spot in the first leg, but Gabriel Pereira's header at the back post on the stroke of half-time earned Copenhagen a draw ahead of the return at Parken.
Copenhagen's only previous UEFA competition matches against a Swiss team are a pair of 1-0 wins against Lugano in the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Benfica vs Fenerbahçe (first leg: 0-0)
Fenerbahçe are aiming to reach the Champions League proper for the first time since 2008/09 and advanced to this season's play-offs after defeating Feyenoord 5-2 in their third qualifying round decider. Taking on the Turkish runners-up are Portugal's second-placed side Benfica.
A tense, tight affair in the first leg ended in a goalless draw in Istanbul, with goalkeepers İrfan Can Eğribayat and Anatoliy Trubin impressing with a string of fine saves each. Who will break the deadlock in the return?
Benfica are now unbeaten in their last eight UEFA competition matches against Turkish teams (W3 D5).
Club Brugge vs Rangers (first leg: 3-1)
Club Brugge have featured in the Champions League proper in seven of the last nine campaigns, including a run to the round of 16 last season, while Rangers have appeared just once in the last 24 years (2022/23).
This tie looked all but over after a scintillating Club Brugge went 3-0 up inside 20 minutes at Ibrox thanks to goals from Romeo Vermant, Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele. But a Danilo Pereira reply early in the second half along with a vastly improved showing from the Gers may just give Russell Martin's side a bit of belief going into the return in Belgium.
The last UEFA matches between these two teams before this tie were in the group stage of the inaugural edition of the UEFA Champions League in 1992/93. A 1-1 draw in Belgium was followed by a 2-1 home win for Rangers.
--This news comes from UEFA NEWS and is NOT for commercial purposes
