UCL 2025/26 play-off round: First leg previews and predictions

Champions League returns this midweek with teams between the 9th – 24th place in group stages fighting it out for progression into the Round of 16. Eight matches will be held over two legs to decide the final 16 teams.  

Some really exciting encounters await us with Europe’s elite clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus looking to book their place in the next round while the underdogs like Benfica, Bodo/Glimt and Qarabag looking to upset the apple cart and move into unchartered territory. 

Here, we present our previews and predictions for each first-leg encounter of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 play-off round.

Galatasaray vs Juventus

Turkish giants Galatasaray will take on former Champions League winners Juventus in the playoffs first-leg at the RAMS park. 

Galatasaray is performing well in their domestic league, currently sitting at the top of the table.  They have been unbeaten in their last four games. Their last Champions League game resulted in a loss away to Manchester City. Juventus on the other hand have been in dismal form, winning only one game out of their last five with two defeats and two draws. Their most recent game ended in defeat to Inter. The Old Lady is currently sitting in fifth place in the Italian Serie A with a 15-point gap to league-leaders Inter. 

Both teams have a few injury concerns with Galatasaray set to miss Enes Emre Buyuk with Metehan Baltaci suspended while Juve will have Emil Holm, Khéphren Thuram, Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovi? all doubtful for this game. 

Even though Juventus has several talented game-changing players like Kenan Yildiz, Lois Openda and Weston McKennie, their form is definitely concerning for coach Luciano Spalletti. Gala also has some dangerous players on their side with Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané and ?lkay kay Gündogan who can trouble the Juventus backline. Galatasaray is also a physical side that has a good defensive structure and like to break play with tactical fouls and disruptions. Juve on the other hand have been vulnerable defensively. Difficult to call this game but we believe it would be a tight and feisty affair that would more likely end in a draw. 

Score Prediction: Galatasaray 1–1 Juve

Benfica vs Real Madrid

This is a repeat fixture of the last league phase game which ended in a thrilling 4-2 win for the hosts at the Estádio da Luz.  Courtesy of this win, Benfica went on to qualify for the knockout play-offs on the basis of goal difference. Real Madrid would definitely be wounded by that loss and looking for revenge over the two legs. 

Benfica is currently lying third in Liga Portugal with a seven-point gap to league leaders Porto. Their recent form has been great with four wins and a draw in their last five encounters. Real Madrid has also been winning convincingly since the loss to Benfica in the Champions League. Their most recent win was a 4-1 thrashing of Real Sociedad. 

Injuries have decimated Benfica with about five key players out injured. Alexander Bah, Samuel Soares, Fredrik Aursnes, João Veloso and Richard Rios are all unavailable with Olivio Tome suspended for this fixture. For Real Madrid, the players missing for this fixture will be Éder Militão, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo with injury issues while Raul Asencio is out suspended.  

Benfica is an aggressive team that likes to play on the front foot and has the attacking players that can’t be taken for granted. Though the good news for Real Madrid is that their most impactful players like Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappé are looking in good touch and there aren’t many defences in world football that can stop these two when they are on song. Benfica coach José Mourinho is a shrewd tactician though and would be devising ways to thwart the Madrid attack. It’s not easy going away to Benfica and getting a positive result and this could be yet another thrilling encounter that may end in Real Madrid’s favour this time. 

Score Prediction: Benfica 2–3 Real Madrid 

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

This is one of the most challenging fixtures in the knockout playoffs for both teams as both Dortmund and Atalanta are evenly matched teams.  

Both teams are in similar form with Dortmund only suffering defeat in one game out of their last five. The only game they lost was the home defeat to Inter in the last league phase fixture of the Champions League. As for the Italian side, their last defeat also came in the UCL when they lost to Union Saint-Gilloise away from home. Atalanta has been unbeaten since then with three wins and a draw. 

From an injury perspective, both teams have only a few players out due to fitness concerns. While Dortmund would miss Emre Can due to a groin injury, Atalanta will be without Giacomo Raspadori and Charles De Ketelaere for this fixture. 

Though Dortmund had been pretty consistent at home until the last league phase game, this is a tough Atalanta side and knowing that they play away in the second leg, Die Borussen need to take the initiative in this first leg. Serhou Guirassy, Ramy Bensebaini and Maximilian Beier could be the key players in attack for Dortmund while Atalanta will miss the creativity of Charles de Ketelaere in this game. Since Dortmund is playing at home, they do have a slight advantage and hence our prediction would be a close win for Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park. 

Score Prediction: BVB 2–1 Atalanta 

Qarabag vs Newcastle United

Relative newcomers Qaraba? FK have been the talk of the town as they exceeded all expectations to qualify for the knockout playoffs amongst European heavyweights. They will face a dangerous Newcastle United team that have secured several big results away from home in the Champions League this season. 

If we look at the recent form of these two teams, Qaraba? has done well in the domestic league, having won their last three consecutive games. Though they got thrashed 6-0 by Liverpool in their last league phase game, playing at home, Qaraba? is a different proposition. The Magpies have just gotten two back-to-back wins in their last two games but lost three games prior to that. However, two of those were against difficult teams in Liverpool and Manchester City. 

As for injuries, Qaraba? has a fully fit squad while Newcastle has a long list of key injuries. Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, Tino Livramento, Fabian Sch?r, Lewis Miley and Emil Krafth all out injured. 

With their midfield duo Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton out, Newcastle is definitely weakened in the midfield, an area where the home team can take advantage. This is a big game for the hosts as going away to St. James’ Park in the second leg and finding a win there would be very challenging. Considering Newcastle’s injury issues, we do believe that Qaraba? has a great chance to capitalise and find a win here and defend their lead in the reverse fixture. Our prediction for this game would be a close win for the Azerbaijani outfit. 

Score Prediction: Qarabag 2–1 Newcastle