In the Champions League play‑offs, Borussia Dortmund will take on Atalanta from Bergamo, while Bayer Leverkusen are drawn against Olympiacos from Piraeus. The draw, held on Friday in Nyon, means no all‑German clash for the two Bundesliga sides just yet; however, in the round of 16 one of them could meet FC Bayern Munich, who were already qualified for that knock‑out stage.
Another highlight of the play‑offs is the tie between Benfica Lisbon and Real Madrid. The same matchup had already played out earlier that week, with Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a dramatic goal that secured the Portuguese side’s progression.
Other first‑round pairings include Galatasaray Istanbul vs. Juventus Turin, Qarabag Agdam vs. Newcastle United, Club Brugge vs. Atlético Madrid, and FK Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter Milan.
