Champions League Game Play-Offs 1st Legs – Copybet
The new Champions League format is far more hectic than the old system, with the knockout round getting under way on Tuesday.
Less than a month ago we saw some of Europe’s biggest names scrambling to avoid extra February fixtures. While this may be a punishment round for some, there’s plenty of great action for us to enjoy from this week’s first-leg clashes.
Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
PSG fell to second in Ligue 1 over the weekend after a 3-1 defeat at Rennes on Friday night. The European champions aren’t having things all their own way domestically, having also suffered 1-0 defeats at Marseille and Monaco.
The French champions were once again unable to make the top eight in the League Phase and, just like last season, they have been paired with domestic opposition in the first round of the knockouts.
PSG were already looking like a side to fear before they eased past Brest last term, although Luis Enrique’s side have yet to hit that level this season.
Fatigue appears to be impacting PSG, after a busy 2024/25 campaign led into the Club World Cup. They have already been dumped out of the French Cup, while they only claimed a point from January’s European clashes with Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle.
Monaco were unbeaten at home in the League Phase, holding the likes of Manchester City, Juventus and Galatasaray at bay.
They have already beaten PSG on home turf this term, while they have won three of their last five home clashes with the Parisians.
Qarabag vs Newcastle United
Newcastle paid a high price for missing out on the top eight as they are heading to Azerbaijan for the first leg of their Play-Off tie. Chelsea have made that tough trip and only managed a 2-2 draw.
The Azerbaijani side scored at least twice in every home game in the League Phase, claiming wins over Copenhagen (2-0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2), suffering just one defeat as they went down 4-2 to Ajax. However, they also won 3-2 at Benfica so Newcastle should be put under pressure.
Both teams have scored in the Magpies’ last six matches, while Eddie Howe’s men also conceded in each of their last three Champions League away trips.
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Olympiacos won both of their Champions League matches in January to secure a spot in the top 24. That included a 2-0 home win over Bayer Leverkusen, with the Bundesliga side showing signs of rust after their winter break.
However, that result was firmly against the run of play. Leverkusen had 72% of possession and failed to score from an xG of 2.58. Olympiacos had just six shots in total, and scored with their only two efforts on target in the first half.
Since that defeat, Leverkusen have won five of six games, drawing the other, while scoring three or more goals in four of their last five starts. Kasper Hjulmand's men can claim some revenge with a first leg victory on Wednesday.