Other Portuguese clubs besides Benfica have qualified for the playoffs.
Champions League Playoff Round Set to Determine Final Spots
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League playoff round is set to commence on August 19/20 and 26/27, with the winners from this stage securing the final seven spots in the league phase of the prestigious tournament.
The third qualifying round, held on August 5-6 and August 12, saw several teams battle it out for a place in the playoffs. The competition was divided into two paths: the Champions Path and the League Path.
In the Champions Path, Red Star Belgrade, along with teams like Copenhagen, Slovan Bratislava, Lech Poznań, Malmö FF, Kairat, Ferencváros, Pafos, Qarabağ, Ludogorets Razgrad, Dynamo Kyiv, and Shkëndija competed.
Meanwhile, the League Path featured Benfica, Club Brugge, Rangers, Feyenoord, Red Bull Salzburg, Fenerbahçe, Viktoria Plzeň, and Nice.
Winners from these ties have progressed to the playoff round, which will determine the final lineup for the league phase of the Champions League.
Among the teams known to be in the playoff round are Celtic, Rangers, Fenerbahçe, Benfica, Club Brugge, and Copenhagen. However, the exact list of teams that won their third qualifying round matches has not been explicitly provided.
Some notable results from the third qualifying round include Ferencvaros' 3-0 home win against Ludogorets, Kairat Almaty's 1-0 home loss to Slovan Bratislava, Pafos' 2-0 home victory over Dynamo Kyiv, Copenhagen's 5-0 home win against Malmo, Club Brugge's 3-2 home victory against Salzburg, Qarabag's 5-1 home win against Shkendija, and Fenerbahce's 5-2 home win against Feyenoord.
Notable performances include Jorginho's decisive penalty in the Kairat Almaty vs Slovan Bratislava game, and the contributions of Portuguese players Domingos Quinta and Pepe Rodrigues in Pafos' victory.
In the Champions League playoff draw, Red Star Belgrade has been paired with Pafos, Kairat Almaty with Celtic, Basel with Copenhagen, Ferencvaros with Qarabag, Rangers with Club Brugge, Fenerbahce with Benfica.
The playoff round promises to be an exciting finale before the league phase of the Champions League, with each team fighting to secure their place among the 29 teams that have already qualified automatically.
What teams are competing in the Champions League playoff round? Copenhagen, Red Star Belgrade, Pafos, Kairat Almaty, Ferencvaros, Qarabag, Rangers, and Club Brugge will be fighting to secure their place in the league phase of the Champions League.
Which matches will be particularly intriguing in the Champions League playoff round? The matches between Red Star Belgrade and Pafos, Kairat Almaty and Celtic, Basel and Copenhagen, Ferencvaros and Qarabag, Rangers and Club Brugge, and Fenerbahce and Benfica are likely to be particularly exciting in the playoff round.
