The UEFA Champions League 2026/27 third qualifying round is complete, with ten clubs advancing from the second legs played on 11 August. The competition has since moved into the play-off round, where seven remaining places in the 36-team Champions League league phase are at stake.
Levski Sofia, Sabah, GNK Dinamo, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Slovan Bratislava and Celje progressed through the Champions Path, while Bodø/Glimt, N.E.C., Fenerbahçe and Lyon advanced from the League Path.
The play-off first legs have also now been completed, giving South African football fans a clearer picture of which clubs are closest to reaching the league phase.
For the full competition calendar, format and key dates, see our 2026/27 UEFA Champions League guide.
UCL third qualifying round second-leg results
The third qualifying round concluded on 11 August, with several ties changing significantly in the return legs.
| Second-leg fixture | Second-leg result | Aggregate | Team through |
| Kairat Almaty vs Levski Sofia | 0-1 | 0-2 | Levski Sofia |
| Sabah vs AGF Aarhus | 4-0 | 5-2 | Sabah |
| Kauno Žalgiris vs GNK Dinamo | 1-2 | 1-7 | GNK Dinamo |
| Crvena Zvezda vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva | 0-2 | 0-3 | Hapoel Beer-Sheva |
| Slovan Bratislava vs Mjällby | 2-0 | 4-1 | Slovan Bratislava |
| Celje vs Ararat-Armenia | 2-0 | 3-2 | Celje |
| Bodø/Glimt vs Union Saint-Gilloise | 3-2 AET | 6-5 | Bodø/Glimt |
| N.E.C. vs Olympiacos | 2-1 AET | 2-1 | N.E.C. |
| Sturm Graz vs Fenerbahçe | 0-1 | 0-3 | Fenerbahçe |
| Lyon vs Sparta Praha | 3-0 | 4-2 | Lyon |
UEFA confirmed that the winners advanced to the play-off round in their respective paths.
READ ALSO : UEFA Europa league third qualifying round
Biggest stories from the second legs
Sabah overturn their first-leg defeat
Sabah produced one of the strongest second-leg responses of the round.
After losing 2-1 away to AGF Aarhus in the opening leg, the Azerbaijani club won the return match 4-0 to complete a 5-2 aggregate victory.
That turnaround earned Sabah a place in the Champions League play-offs and showed why aggregate scorelines can change quickly when a team that trails after the first leg is able to dictate the return fixture at home.
Celje recover to eliminate Ararat-Armenia
Celje also entered their second leg behind on aggregate.
Ararat-Armenia had taken a 2-1 advantage from the opening match, but Celje responded with a 2-0 victory in Slovenia and progressed 3-2 overall.
The result underlined one of the defining features of two-legged Champions League qualifying: a first-leg advantage provides a platform, but it rarely guarantees progression.
Bodø/Glimt survive a nine-goal aggregate battle
The closest tie of the round came between Bodø/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise.
Their opening match ended 3-3 before Bodø/Glimt won the second leg 3-2 after extra time, producing a 6-5 aggregate score.
That victory sent the Norwegian side into the League Path play-offs and kept alive their chance of reaching the Champions League league phase.
Lyon turn the tie around against Sparta Praha
Sparta Praha held a 2-1 advantage after the first leg, but Lyon changed the tie completely in France.
A 3-0 second-leg win gave Lyon a 4-2 aggregate victory and a place in the League Path play-offs.
Fenerbahçe were more comfortable across their tie, following a 2-0 first-leg victory against Sturm Graz with a 1-0 away win to progress 3-0 on aggregate.
Champions League 2026/27 play-off ties
The play-off draw was held on 3 August, before the third qualifying round had been completed. UEFA therefore initially drew several potential pairings rather than confirmed teams.
Once the third-round winners were known, the seven play-off ties became:
Champions Path
- Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens
- Celtic vs LASK
- GNK Dinamo vs Viking
- Slovan Bratislava vs Celje
- Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs Sabah
League Path
- Fenerbahçe vs Lyon
- N.E.C. vs Bodø/Glimt
Unlike the previous Champions League group-stage system, the seven winners will qualify for the 36-team league phase. They will join the 29 clubs that qualified directly.
Champions League play-off first-leg results
The first legs were played on 18 and 19 August.
| Play-off tie | First-leg result |
| Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens | 0-0 |
| GNK Dinamo vs Viking | 2-2 |
| Fenerbahçe vs Lyon | 1-1 |
| Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs Sabah | 2-1 |
| Celtic vs LASK | 3-0 |
| Slovan Bratislava vs Celje | 1-1 |
| N.E.C. vs Bodø/Glimt | 1-3 |
Celtic produced the biggest result of the round so far, beating LASK 3-0 in Glasgow. Bodø/Glimt also took a significant advantage after winning 3-1 away against N.E.C.
The remaining five ties are considerably closer.
Levski Sofia and AEK Athens remain level after a goalless first leg, while GNK Dinamo and Viking drew 2-2. Fenerbahçe and Lyon will also start their return match level following a 1-1 draw in Istanbul.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva take a narrow 2-1 advantage into their second leg against Sabah, while Slovan Bratislava and Celje are tied at 1-1.
Why the second legs will be different
Second legs create a different tactical problem from the opening match.
Celtic and Bodø/Glimt can approach their return fixtures with significant aggregate advantages. They do not necessarily need to chase the game immediately and can force LASK and N.E.C. to take greater attacking risks.
The situation is very different in Athens, Stavanger, Lyon and Celje.
Those ties remain level, meaning one decisive moment could determine who reaches the league phase. Teams must balance attacking ambition against the danger of conceding first and being forced to chase the tie.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva have an advantage against Sabah, but a one-goal lead leaves little room for error in the return fixture.
That is what makes the Champions League play-offs particularly demanding: there is no league table to recover in if things go wrong. The aggregate result across two matches decides the season’s next European destination.
When are the Champions League play-off second legs?
The return matches take place on 25 and 26 August 2026.
Tuesday, 25 August
- Sabah vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva
- LASK vs Celtic
- Bodø/Glimt vs N.E.C.
Wednesday, 26 August
- AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia
- Viking vs GNK Dinamo
- Celje vs Slovan Bratislava
- Lyon vs Fenerbahçe
The seven winners will qualify for the Champions League league phase.
READ ALSO : 2026/27 UEFA Champions league
What happens after the Champions League play-offs?
The 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw takes place on 27 August.
Thirty-six clubs will participate: 29 direct qualifiers and the seven play-off winners.
League-phase Matchday 1 then takes place from 8–10 September 2026.
Each team plays eight league-phase matches rather than competing in the traditional four-team groups used in older editions of the Champions League.
What happens to teams that lose the Champions League play-offs?
All seven clubs eliminated in the Champions League play-off round transfer directly into the UEFA Europa League league phase.
Their European campaigns therefore continue even if they miss out on Champions League qualification.
Follow Champions League football on SportPesa South Africa
The qualification picture is now down to seven decisive second legs.
Football fans can follow available Champions League fixtures and other European football markets through SportPesa South Africa soccer betting.
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FAQs
When was the Champions League third qualifying round completed?
The third qualifying round second legs were played on 11 August 2026.
How many teams progressed from the third qualifying round?
Ten clubs progressed from the third qualifying round: six through the Champions Path and four through the League Path. Four additional clubs entered directly at the play-off stage, creating seven play-off ties.
How many teams qualify from the Champions League play-offs?
Seven teams qualify for the Champions League league phase: five from the Champions Path and two from the League Path.
When are the Champions League play-off second legs?
The second legs take place on 25 and 26 August 2026.
When is the Champions League league-phase draw?
The league-phase draw is scheduled for 27 August 2026.
When does Champions League Matchday 1 start?
The first league-phase matches will be played from 8–10 September 2026.
Conclusion
The Champions League qualifying picture is now much clearer. Levski Sofia, Sabah, GNK Dinamo, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Slovan Bratislava, Celje, Bodø/Glimt, N.E.C., Fenerbahçe and Lyon survived the third qualifying round, but reaching the league phase still requires one final successful tie.
Celtic and Bodø/Glimt carry the strongest advantages into the play-off second legs, while several of the other contests remain finely balanced after draws in the opening matches.
By the end of 26 August, the final seven league-phase qualifiers will be known. The draw follows one day later, setting the complete field for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.