Liverpool's Champions League Pathway Becomes Clearer as Two Likeliest Options Emerge

Liverpool FC's route through the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout stages has gained clarity following dramatic results in the knockout play-off ties, particularly Galatasaray's emphatic 5-2 first-leg victory over Juventus.[1][2]

Liverpool, having finished third in the league phase, bypassed the play-offs and awaits opponents for the round of 16 in March 2026. The Reds' potential adversaries are drawn from the play-off winners, with Liverpool seeded against one of the unseeded teams: either Atletico Madrid or Club Brugge from one path, and the Galatasaray-Juventus winner from the other.[1][2]

Galatasaray's thrashing at Rams Park in Istanbul has tilted the tie heavily in their favor, making a second Champions League trip to Istanbul within six months highly probable for Arne Slot's side. Juventus face a monumental three-goal deficit ahead of the second leg, reminiscent of Liverpool's own storied comebacks but requiring an extraordinary turnaround to progress. A first competitive meeting with the Serie A giants since 2005 now appears unlikely.[1][2]

Meanwhile, other play-off results shape the landscape: Club Brugge advanced past Red Bull Salzburg (4-2 aggregate), Rangers beat Viktoria Plzeň (4-2), and Benfica eliminated Fenerbahçe (1-0).[4] These outcomes position Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid as the other likely round-of-16 foe alongside Galatasaray.[1]

The first leg at Anfield's opponent will mark Liverpool's third consecutive away fixture in early March, sandwiched between Premier League and FA Cup clashes at Wolves' Molineux. Slot's Premier League champions eye a quarter-final berth—their first since 2022—potentially crucial if domestic qualification wavers.[1][2]

Knockout play-offs conclude February 24/25, 2026, with the round-of-16 draw on January 30 and ties on March 10/11 and 17/18.[5] Liverpool fans anticipate a glamorous yet challenging path forward.[1]

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