UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs: What to look out for on Wednesday

Celtic are at home to Bayern and AC Milan go to Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs.

UEFA.com previews all the action as the knockout phase continues with the four remaining first-leg ties.

All kick-off times are 21:00 CET unless stated.

Wednesday 12 February

Club Brugge vs Atalanta (18:45 CET)

League phase performance: Club Brugge 24th (W3 D2 L3); Atalanta 9th (W4 D3 L1)

Despite the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Matchday 8, Club Brugge carry a sense of triumph into the knockout phase. “We can be very proud of the way we performed during the league phase, we are happy that we are going through, and we remain ambitious,” said coach Nicky Hayen. As for that defeat in Manchester, the 44-year-old Belgian hopes it will prove instructive. “It may also be a good lesson regarding the mistakes we made today and how they were punished immediately,” he said at full-time.

Only defeated once on their path to the knockout phase qualification, Atalanta proved themselves formidable opponents during their league phase campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side earned two wins by five-goal margins and held second-placed Barcelona to a 2-2 draw on Matchday 8 which left opposition coach Hansi Flick convinced of their quality. “We played a very good team with a great philosophy,” he said.

Did you know?
Club Brugge last defeated an Italian side in UEFA club competition in October 2003, going winless in the 15 fixtures since (D6 L9).

Monaco vs Benfica

League phase performance: Monaco 17th (W4 D1 L3); Benfica 16th (W4 D1 L3)

Memories of a thrilling 3-2 win on Matchday 5 are still fresh for Benfica as they return to Monaco in the knockout phase. Late goals from Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni, both assisted by the superb Ángel Di María, inspired that turnaround victory in November, which led coach Bruno Lage to praise the response of his players in a “very emotional game”. He was similarly pleased as Benfica earned a crucial victory over Juventus on Matchday 8, which he deemed a "deserved win against a very strong team."

Reduced to ten following the second half dismissal of Wilfried Singo, Monaco will look back on that loss as a missed opportunity in a campaign that included wins over top eight finishers Aston Villa and Barcelona. “The overall feeling is that we had the ability to win that game,” said forward Folarin Balogun at full-time. They have their opportunity to make amends at Stade Louis II, but will they take advantage of it?

Did you know?
In addition to their league phase loss, Monaco failed to win against Benfica in two Champions League meetings in 2014 (D1 L1).

Celtic vs Bayern München

League phase performance: Celtic 21st (W3 D3 L2); Bayern München 12th (W5 D0 L3)

Coach Brendan Rodgers believes the lessons from an impressive league phase campaign have prepared his side for a meeting with one of the “top teams” in Europe. “We’ve shown clear progression, both in our football and our mentality and attitude,” said Rodgers, who was also at the helm during the last Champions League meetings between these two clubs – two Celtic losses in 2017, including a home defeat. “We will give everything over the course of these two legs,” he said, hopeful of improving his record against the Bavarian club.

Bayern are eagerly anticipating the tie too, spurred on by domestic form which places them top of the Bundesliga table, and a record of four wins from five to conclude their league phase campaign. “They’ll be two difficult games, but we’re excited. It’s a new opponent for me. You always like new experiences as a player,” said winger Serge Gnabry. Veteran forward Thomas Müller, meanwhile, offered a straightforward call to action for his team-mates: “Let’s rock it!”

Did you know?
Celtic are yet to defeat Bayern in UEFA club competition after four attempts (D1 L3).

Feyenoord vs Milan

League phase performance: Feyenoord 19th (W4 D1 L3); Milan 13th (W5 D0 L3)

Feyenoord arrive in the knockout phase on the back of an impressive league phase campaign, headlined by a 3-0 victory over Bayern and a turnaround draw at Man City. However, a 6-1 defeat at Lille on Matchday 8 has given the Dutch side plenty to think about as they prepare for Milan. "At the start of the competition, nobody expected us to be in this position," said defender Dávid Hancko. "If we forget the first game [a 4-0 home defeat to Leverkusen] and the last game, we did some incredible things. The games against Bayern and City, I’ll never forget them."

Milan occupied a top eight position as Matchday 8 began, but defeat at GNK Dinamo saw them fall down the standings. Coach Sergio Conceição regretted the lack of aggression in that performance, but was buoyed by a more spirited display against city rivals Inter in Serie A in their following match. “Our intensity, aggression and hunger to win the game were at their highest,” the Portuguese coach said, despite settling for a 1-1 draw.

Did you know?
Milan are winless in their previous four matches against Dutch opposition in UEFA club competition, excluding qualifying.

Further ahead

• The round of 16 line-up will be completed after the return fixtures take place on 18 and 19 February.
• Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atleti, Barcelona, Inter, Leverkusen, Lille and Liverpool have already qualified for the round of 16 after finishing in the league phase top eight.
• The draw for the round of 16, quarter-final, and semi-final match-ups will follow on Friday 21 February.

Where is the 2025 UEFA Champions League final being played?

UEFA via Getty Images

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final will take place at Munich's Fußball Arena München on 31 May 2025.