NYON (dpa-AFX) - The Champions League playoffs will not see a clash between two Bundesliga teams. Borussia Dortmund will face Atalanta Bergamo from Italy in the qualification round for the round of 16. Bayer Leverkusen will take on Olympiakos Piraeus. This was the outcome of the draw in Nyon. Dortmund will host Atalanta in the first leg (February 24/25). Leverkusen, thanks to their higher standing from the league phase, will have home advantage in the decisive second leg (February 24/25) against the Greeks.
Due to BVB's defeat on matchday eight against Inter Milan and Leverkusen's victory over Villarreal, a table scenario emerged that made a direct duel between the two North Rhine-Westphalian teams likely. However, things turned out differently.
Bayern Waits: German Duel in the Round of 16?
A German matchup is still possible in the round of 16 – and even guaranteed if both BVB and Leverkusen prevail in the playoffs. In that case, Germany's record champions FC Bayern Munich await one of the two teams in the last 16. The Munich side qualified directly for the round of 16 by finishing second in the league phase.
The seeding for the knockout rounds ensures that Bayern will face one of the winners from the Dortmund-Atalanta and Leverkusen-Piraeus ties. The other playoff winner will take on Arsenal FC. The English club won all their Champions League matches so far and finished as dominant group leaders. The draw will take place on February 27.
Benfica and Real Meet Again
In the playoffs, for which teams placed ninth to twenty-fourth qualified, there will also be matches featuring defending champions Paris Saint-Germain against league rivals AS Monaco, Newcastle United with German striker Nick Woltemade against FK Qarabag Agdam, Atlético Madrid versus Club Brugge, Juventus Turin against Galatasaray Istanbul, and Inter Milan versus FK Bodö/Glimt.
Additionally, Real Madrid will face Benfica Lisbon. The two teams had just played each other on Wednesday: Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic late goal in stoppage time to secure a 4-2 victory, which propelled the Portuguese side into the playoffs./msw/DP/men
