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What to look out for in Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying play-offs
25th August, 2026 06:49 PM
The race for the remaining places in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase reaches its decisive stage this week, with seven play-off ties set to be settled across Tuesday, August 25, 2026, and Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Several clubs head into the second legs with narrow advantages, while others must produce strong home performances after evenly balanced first encounters.
Tuesday’s decisive fixtures
LASK vs Celtic – Celtic lead 3-0
Celtic travel to Austria with a commanding three-goal advantage after an impressive first-leg display in Glasgow.
Camilo Duran scored twice on his Celtic debut in the opening match, while Benjamin Nygren also found the net as Martin O’Neill’s side took control of the tie.
LASK, however, created several opportunities in the first meeting and will believe they can make the return leg uncomfortable for the Scottish champions.
Celtic have previously struggled against Austrian opposition, recording only four victories in 14 UEFA meetings, alongside three draws and seven defeats.
Bodø/Glimt vs N.E.C. – Bodø/Glimt lead 3-1
Bodø/Glimt are within touching distance of another Champions League league-phase appearance after defeating N.E.C. 3-1 in the Netherlands.
The Norwegian club’s advantage was strengthened by their ability to exploit spaces on the counterattack. N.E.C. did receive a late boost when Clement Bischoff scored, giving the Dutch side renewed belief before the trip to Norway.
N.E.C. are seeking their first-ever appearance in the Champions League proper, having last competed in European football during the 2008/09 UEFA Cup campaign.
Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva – Hapoel lead 2-1
The tie between Sabah and Hapoel Beer-Sheva remains finely poised, with the Israeli club carrying a one-goal advantage into the second meeting.
Hapoel recovered from falling behind to win the opening match 2-1, leaving Sabah needing a victory in Azerbaijan to keep their Champions League dream alive.
Whichever side progresses will reach the Champions League league phase for the first time.
Sabah are competing in the Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time and have already made history with their run. Their striker Veljko Simić has also emerged as the leading scorer in qualifying, with six goals.
What is at stake?
Fourteen clubs are competing in the play-off round, with places in the Champions League league phase at stake.
The winners of the seven ties will secure their places among Europe’s elite, while the losing teams will drop into the UEFA Europa League league phase.
Attention will then turn to the Champions League league-phase draw, scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 18:00 CET.
With several ties separated by a single goal or completely level, the second legs promise a dramatic conclusion to this year’s qualifying campaign.
