The anticipation builds as the final preparations unfold for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League play-off round, marked by a recent draw at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. This significant event took place on August 5, shedding light on the matchups that will transpire on August 20/21 and 27/28, as teams compete for a place in the illustrious tournament’s group stage.
Matchups for the Play-Off Round:
Young Boys Bern (SUI) vs. Galatasaray (TUR)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) vs. Qarabag (AZE) or Ludogorets (BUL)
Midtjylland (DEN) or Ferencvaros (HUN) vs. Slovan Bratislava (SVK) or APOEL Nicosia (CYP)
Jagiellonia Bialystok (POL) or Bodo/Glimt (NOR) vs. Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
Malmo (SWE) or PAOK (GRE) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) or Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Lille (FRA) or Fenerbahce (TUR) vs. Slavia Prague (CZE) or Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) or Rangers (SCO) vs. RB Salzburg (AUT) or Twente (NED)
The UEFA Champions League play-off round undergoes a meticulously structured draw process to maintain competitive balance and fairness. Matches will be held in a two-legged knockout format, with teams facing off in home and away games.
The draw features an equal distribution of seeded and unseeded teams based on their respective club coefficient rankings. Certain restrictions are in place to avoid specific matchups between designated clubs.
In the Champions Path, 10 teams are categorized into five seeded and five unseeded teams, while in the league path, four teams are split into two seeded and two unseeded groups. This pivotal draw not only sets up the matchups but also designates home teams for the initial legs, with the scheduling and kickoff times coordinated by UEFA.
