Champions League qualifying play-off round: What to look out for
Baku, August 27, AZERTAC
The final four places in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League will be decided in the play-off round on Wednesday, according to the official website of the UEFA.
UEFA.com picks out the key storylines and stats ahead of the remaining second legs.
Ferencváros and Qarabağ arrived in the play-offs after compelling victories in the third qualifying round. Robbie Keane's side defeated Ludogorets 3-0 in the Budapest decider after a goalless first leg, while the Azerbaijani club beat Shkëndija 6-1 on aggregate.
The hosts looked set to take a first-leg advantage after Barnabás Varga gave Ferencváros a first-half lead, but Qarabağ roared back in the second period as strikes from Musa Gurbanli, Kevin Medina and Marko Janković put Gurban Gurbanov's team in the ascendency.
Basel entered at the play-off round after capturing the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup in 2024/25. Those triumphs were overseen by Fabio Celestini, but now it is the turn of June appointment Ludovic Magnin to make his mark. Copenhagen also completed a domestic double in Denmark last season and arrived in the play-off round with confidence flowing after sweeping past Malmö with a 5-0 win in the third qualifying round decider at Parken.
Veteran captain Xherdan Shaqiri gave Basel the lead from the penalty spot in the first leg, but Gabriel Pereira's header at the back post on the stroke of half-time earned Copenhagen a draw ahead of the return at Parken.
Fenerbahçe are aiming to reach the Champions League proper for the first time since 2008/09 and advanced to this season's play-offs after defeating Feyenoord 5-2 in their third qualifying round decider. Taking on the Turkish runners-up are Portugal's second-placed side Benfica.
A tense, tight affair in the first leg ended in a goalless draw in Istanbul, with goalkeepers İrfan Can Eğribayat and Anatoliy Trubin impressing with a string of fine saves each. Who will break the deadlock in the return?
Club Brugge have featured in the Champions League proper in seven of the last nine campaigns, including a run to the round of 16 last season, while Rangers have appeared just once in the last 24 years (2022/23).
This tie looked all but over after a scintillating Club Brugge went 3-0 up inside 20 minutes at Ibrox thanks to goals from Romeo Vermant, Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele. But a Danilo Pereira reply early in the second half along with a vastly improved showing from the Gers may just give Russell Martin's side a bit of belief going into the return in Belgium.
The last UEFA matches between these two teams before this tie were in the group stage of the inaugural edition of the UEFA Champions League in 1992/93. A 1-1 draw in Belgium was followed by a 2-1 home win for Rangers.
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