Did you miss Champions League? After a week with domestic cups (EFL Cup, Copa del Rey, Coupe de France...) in most countries, the top European competition returns this week... but only for a few clubs: the first ever knockout play-off, between the teams that ranked 9-24. A two-legged match, taking place this week and the following week: the winner will move to the round of 16, where the top 8 teams from the League Phase await. The losers will be out of the competition.
As usual, the games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, at the usual times of UEFA's games. Matches will be played this week on the unseeded teams (those that ended 17-24), so that the second leg will be played at home for the teams that nailed a better place in the League Phase.
Next week, February 18-19, the second leg will take place. The first match of the round of 16 will take place the first week of March.