2020–21 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round

The 2020–21 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round began on 8 August and ended on 30 September 2020.[1]

A total of 53 teams competed in the qualifying system of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League, which includes the qualifying phase and the play-off round, with 43 teams in Champions Path and 10 teams in League Path. The six winners in the play-off round (four from Champions Path, two from League Path) advanced to the group stage, to join the 26 teams that enter in the group stage.[2]

Times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Teams

Champions Path

22 September 2020 (2020-09-22)
21:00
Slavia Prague   0–0   Midtjylland Sinobo Stadium, Prague
Attendance: 0[3]
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029263/
30 September 2020 (2020-09-30)
21:00
Midtjylland   4–1   Slavia Prague MCH Arena, Herning
Attendance: 0[4]
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029269/

Midtjylland won 4–1 on aggregate.


22 September 2020 (2020-09-22)
21:00 (22:00 IDT)
Maccabi Tel Aviv   1–2   Red Bull Salzburg Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv
Attendance: 0[5]
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029264/
30 September 2020 (2020-09-30)
21:00
Red Bull Salzburg   3–1   Maccabi Tel Aviv Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Wals-Siezenheim
Attendance: 0[6]
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029270/

Red Bull Salzburg won 5–2 on aggregate.


23 September 2020 (2020-09-23)
21:00 (22:00 EEST)
Olympiacos   2–0   Omonia Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
Attendance: 0[7]
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029265/
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29)
21:00 (22:00 EEST)
Omonia   0–0   Olympiacos GSP Stadium, Nicosia
Attendance: 0[8]
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029271/

Olympiacos won 2–0 on aggregate.


23 September 2020 (2020-09-23)
21:00
Molde   3–3   Ferencváros Aker Stadion, Molde
Attendance: 0[9]
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029266/
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29)
21:00
Ferencváros   0–0   Molde Groupama Arena, Budapest
Attendance: 0[10]
Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029272/

3–3 on aggregate. Ferencváros won on away goals.

League Path

22 September 2020 (2020-09-22)
21:00 (22:00 MSK)
Krasnodar   2–1   PAOK Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar
Attendance: 0[11]
Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029267/
30 September 2020 (2020-09-30)
21:00 (22:00 EEST)
PAOK   1–2   Krasnodar Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki
Attendance: 0[12]
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029273/

Krasnodar won 4–2 on aggregate.


23 September 2020 (2020-09-23)
21:00
Gent   1–2   Dynamo Kyiv Ghelamco Arena, Ghent
Attendance: 0[13]
Referee: Ovidiu Hațegan (Romania)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029268/
29 September 2020 (2020-09-29)
21:00 (22:00 EEST)
Dynamo Kyiv   3–0   Gent NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv
Attendance: 0[14]
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029274/

Dynamo Kyiv won 5–1 on aggregate.

Format

In a change to the format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, each tie prior to the play-off round is played as a single-legged match hosted by one of the teams decided by draw, except for the preliminary round which is played at neutral venue.[15] If scores are level at the end of normal time, extra time is played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if the scores remain tied.

The play-off round ties are played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scores more goals on aggregate over the two legs advances to the next round. If the aggregate score is level, the away goals rule is applied, i.e. the team that scores more goals away from home over the two legs advances. If away goals are also equal, then extra time is played. The away goals rule is again applied after extra time, i.e. if there are goals scored during extra time and the aggregate score is still level, the visiting team advances by virtue of more away goals scored. If no goals are scored during extra time, the tie is decided by a penalty shoot-out.

In each draw, teams are seeded based on their 2020 UEFA club coefficients. For any team whose club coefficients are not final at the time of a draw, their club coefficients at that time, taking into account of all 2019–20 UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches played up to that point, are used (Regulations Article 13.03). Teams are divided into seeded and unseeded pots containing the same number of teams, and a seeded team is drawn against an unseeded team. For each tie, a draw is made between the two teams, and the first team drawn is the home team in single-legged matches (or the administrative "home" team in preliminary round matches), or home team of the first leg in play-off round two-legged ties. If the identity of the winners of the previous round is not known at the time of the draws, the seeding is carried out under the assumption that the team with the higher coefficient of an undecided tie advances to this round, which means if the team with the lower coefficient is to advance, it simply takes the seeding of its opponent. Teams from associations with political conflicts as decided by UEFA may not be drawn into the same tie. Prior to the draws, UEFA may form "groups" in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee and based on geographical, logistical and political reasons, and they are purely for convenience of the draw and do not resemble any real groupings in the sense of the competition.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, all qualifying matches are played behind closed doors.[16] The following special rules are applicable to the qualifying phase and play-offs:[17]

  • Prior to each draw, UEFA publish the list of known travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. All teams must inform UEFA if there are other existing restrictions other than those published. If a team fails to do so which as a consequence the match cannot take place, the team is considered responsible and to have forfeited the match.
  • If travel restrictions imposed by the home team's country prevent the away team from entering, the home team must propose an alternative venue that allows the match to take place without any restrictions. Otherwise they are considered to have forfeited the match.
  • If travel restrictions imposed by the away team's country prevent the away team from leaving or returning, the home team must propose an alternative venue that allows the match to take place without any restrictions. Otherwise UEFA decide on a venue.
  • If after the draw, new restrictions imposed by either the home team's or away team's country prevent the match from taking place, the team of that country are considered to have forfeited the match.
  • If either team refuses to play the match, they are considered to have forfeited the match. If both teams refuse to play or are responsible for a match not taking place, both teams are disqualified.
  • If a team has players and/or officials tested positive for SARS-2 coronavirus preventing them from playing the match before the deadline set by UEFA, they are considered to have forfeited the match.
  • In all cases, the two teams may agree to play the match at the away team's country or at a neutral country, subject to UEFA's approval. UEFA has the final authority to decide on a venue for any match, or to reschedule any match if necessary.
  • If, for any reason, the qualifying phase and play-offs cannot be completed before the deadline set by UEFA, UEFA decide on the principles for determining the teams qualified for the group stage.

Four countries (Poland, Hungary, Greece and Cyprus) have provided neutral venue hubs which allow matches to be played at their stadiums without restrictions.[18]

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows (all draws are held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland).[19] The tournament would originally have started in June 2020, but had been delayed to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.[20] The new schedule was announced by the UEFA Executive Committee on 17 June 2020.[15]

Round Draw date Match dates
Preliminary round 17 July 2020 8 August 2020 (semi-final round) 11 August 2020 (final round)
First qualifying round 9 August 2020 18–19 August 2020
Second qualifying round 10 August 2020 25–26 August 2020
Third qualifying round 31 August 2020 15–16 September 2020
Play-off round 1 September 2020 22–23 September 2020 (first leg) 29–30 September 2020 (second leg)

The original schedule of the competition, as planned before the pandemic, was as follows (all draws held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, unless stated otherwise).

Original schedule
Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Preliminary round 9 June 2020 23 June 2020 (semi-final round) 26 June 2020 (final round)
First qualifying round 16 June 2020 7–8 July 2020 14–15 July 2020
Second qualifying round 17 June 2020 21–22 July 2020 28–29 July 2020
Third qualifying round 20 July 2020 4–5 August 2020 11 August 2020
Play-off round 3 August 2020 18–19 August 2020 25–26 August 2020

Preliminary round

<section begin=PR /> The draw for the preliminary round was held on 17 July 2020, 12:00 CEST.[21]<section end=PR />

Seeding

A total of 12 teams played in the play-off round. They were divided into two paths:

  • Champions Path (8 teams): 3 teams which entered in this round, and 5 winners of the third qualifying round (Champions Path).
  • League Path (4 teams): 1 team which entered in this round, and 3 winners of the third qualifying round (League Path).

Seeding of teams was based on their 2020 UEFA club coefficients.[22] For the winners of the third qualifying round, whose identity was not known at the time of draw, the club coefficient of the highest-ranked remaining team in each tie was used. The first team drawn in each tie would be the home team of the first leg.

Since Russian and Ukrainian teams may not be drawn into the same tie for political reasons, the winners of the match involving Benfica had to play Krasnodar, and the winners of the match involving Dynamo Kyiv had to play the winners of the match involving Gent.

Champions Path
Seeded Unseeded
Notes
  1. Winners of the third qualifying round (Champions Path), whose identity was not known at the time of draw. Teams in italics defeated a team with a higher coefficient, thus effectively taking the coefficient of their opponent in the draw.
League Path
Seeded Unseeded
Notes
  1. Winners of the third qualifying round (League Path), whose identity was not known at the time of draw. Teams in italics defeated a team with a higher coefficient, thus effectively taking the coefficient of their opponent in the draw.

Bracket

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Summary

<section begin=PO /> The first legs were played on 22 and 23 September, and the second legs were played on 29 and 30 September 2020.

Team #1   Agg.   Team #2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Champions Path
Slavia Prague   1–4   Midtjylland 0–0 1–4
Maccabi Tel Aviv   2–5   Red Bull Salzburg 1–2 1–3
Olympiacos   2–0   Omonia 2–0 0–0
Molde   3–3 (a)   Ferencváros 3–3 0–0
Team #1   Agg.   Team #2   1st leg     2nd leg  
League Path
Krasnodar   4–2   PAOK 2–1 2–1
Gent   1–5   Dynamo Kyiv 1–2 0–3

<section end=PO />

Semi-final round

8 August 2020 (2020-08-08)
15:00
Tre Fiori   0–2   Linfield Colovray Stadium, Nyon
Attendance: 0
Referee: Balázs Berke (Hungary)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029184/

8 August 2020 (2020-08-08)
19:30
Drita   2–1   Inter Club d'Escaldes Colovray Stadium, Nyon
Attendance: 0
Referee: Robert Jenkins (Wales)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029185/

Final round

11 August 2020 (2020-08-11)
18:00
Drita   0–3
(awarded)[note 1]
  Linfield Colovray Stadium, Nyon
Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos (Greece)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2029186/

First qualifying round

<section begin=Q1 /> The draw for the first qualifying round was held on 9 August 2020, 12:00 CEST.[23]<section end=Q1 />

Matches

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
19:00
Ferencváros   2–0   Djurgårdens IF Groupama Arena, Budapest
Attendance: 0
Referee: Fedayi San (Switzerland)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030231/

18 August 2020 (2020-08-18)
20:45 (19:45 BST)
Celtic   6–0   KR Celtic Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030232

18 August 2020 (2020-08-18)
19:00
Legia Warsaw   1–0   Linfield Polish Army Stadium, Warsaw
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nicolas Laforge (Belgium)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030233/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
20:00 (21:00 EEST)
Sheriff Tiraspol   2–0   Fola Esch Sheriff Stadium, Tiraspol
Attendance: 0
Referee: Balázs Berke (Hungary)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030234/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
20:00 (19:00 BST)
Connah's Quay Nomads   0–2   Sarajevo Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff[note 2]
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jamie Robinson (Northern Ireland)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030235/

18 August 2020 (2020-08-18)
21:00
Red Star Belgrade   5–0   Europa Red Star Stadium, Belgrade
Attendance: 0
Referee: Volen Chinkov (Bulgaria)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030236/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
20:00
Budućnost Podgorica   1–3   Ludogorets Razgrad City Stadium, Podgorica
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ferenc Karakó (Hungary)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030237/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
17:00 (19:00 AMT)
Ararat-Armenia   0–1
(a.e.t.)
  Omonia Football Academy Stadium, Yerevan
Attendance: 0
Referee: Viktor Shimusik (Belarus)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030238/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
21:00
Floriana   0–2   CFR Cluj Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali
Attendance: 0
Referee: Laurent Kopriwa (Luxembourg)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030239/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
19:00 (20:00 IDT)
Maccabi Tel Aviv   2–0   Riga Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv
Attendance: 0
Referee: Igor Pajač (Croatia)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030240/

18 August 2020 (2020-08-18)
18:00 (20:00 AZT)
Qarabağ   4–0   Sileks Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku[note 3]
Attendance: 0
Referee: Yaroslav Kozyk (Ukraine)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030241/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
19:00 (21:00 GET)
Dinamo Tbilisi   0–2   Tirana Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi
Attendance: 0
Referee: Roomer Tarajev (Estonia)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030242/

18 August 2020 (2020-08-18)
20:00 (21:00 FET)
Dynamo Brest   6–3   Astana Regional Sport Complex, Brest
Attendance: 0
Referee: Novak Simović (Serbia)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030243/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
18:00
Molde   5–0   KuPS Aker Stadion, Molde
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones (Wales)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030244/

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
18:30 (19:30 EEST)
Flora   1–1
(a.e.t.)
  Sūduva A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nejc Kajtazović (Slovenia)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030245/
  Penalties  
*Vassiljev   2–4 *  Švrljuga

19 August 2020 (2020-08-19)
19:00
Celje   3–0   Dundalk Szusza Ferenc Stadion, Budapest (Hungary)[note 4]
Attendance: 0
Referee: Vítor Ferreira (Portugal)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030246/

21 August 2020 (2020-08-21)[note 5]
18:00 (17:00 WEST)
  3–0
(awarded)[note 5]
  Slovan Bratislava Við Djúpumýrar, Klaksvík
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes (Norway)
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030247/

Second qualifying round

<section begin=Q2 /> The draw for the second qualifying round was held on 10 August 2020, 12:00 CEST.[25]<section end=Q2 />

Third qualifying round

<section begin=Q3 /> The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 31 August 2020, 12:00 CEST.[26]<section end=Q3 />

Play-off round

<section begin=PO /> The draw for the play-off round was held on 1 September 2020, 12:00 CEST.[27]<section end=PO />

Notes

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Drita-Linfield.
  2. Connah's Quay Nomads played their home match at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, instead of their regular stadium Deeside Stadium, Connah's Quay, which did not meet UEFA requirements.
  3. Qarabağ played their home matches at Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, instead of their regular stadium Azersun Arena, Baku, which did not meet UEFA requirements.
  4. The Celje v Dundalk match was played at Szusza Ferenc Stadion, Budapest (Hungary), instead of Celje's regular stadium Stadion Z'dežele, Celje, due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic between Slovenia and Ireland.[24]
  5. 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KÍ-Slovan Bratislava.

References

  1. "2020/21 UEFA Champions League match calendar". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2019.
  2. "Regulations of the UEFA Champions League, 2020/21". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2020.
  3. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 1st Leg – Slavia Prague v Midtjylland" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  4. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 2nd Leg – Midtjylland v Slavia Prague" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  5. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 1st Leg – Maccabi Tel Aviv v Red Bull Salzburg" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  6. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 2nd Leg – Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Tel Aviv" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  7. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 1st Leg – Olympiacos v Omonia" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  8. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 2nd Leg – Omonia v Olympiacos" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  9. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 1st Leg – Molde v Ferencváros" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  10. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 2nd Leg – Ferencváros v Molde" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  11. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 1st Leg – Krasnodar v PAOK" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  12. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 2nd Leg – PAOK v Krasnodar" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  13. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 1st Leg – Gent v Dynamo Kyiv" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  14. "Full Time Summary Play-Offs 2nd Leg – Dynamo Kyiv v Gent" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Updated UEFA competitions calendar. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2020. https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2641731.html. Retrieved 17 June 2020. 
  16. "Venues for Round of 16 matches confirmed". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 July 2020.
  17. "Annex I – Special rules applicable to the qualifying phase and play-offs due to COVID-19" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 August 2020.
  18. "UEFA meets with General Secretaries from its 55 member associations". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 6 August 2020.
  19. "2020/21 UEFA Champions League match calendar". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 September 2019.
  20. "2020/21 UEFA Champions League: all you need to know". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 July 2020.
  21. "UEFA Champions League preliminary round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 July 2020.
  22. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named club coefficients.
  23. "UEFA Champions League first qualifying round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 August 2020.
  24. "SPREMEMBA: Z Dundalkom na Madžarskem" [CHANGE: With Dundalk in Hungary]. www.nk-celje.si (in slovenščina). 9 August 2020.
  25. "UEFA Champions League second qualifying round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 August 2020.
  26. "UEFA Champions League third qualifying round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 31 August 2020.
  27. "UEFA Champions League play-off round draw". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 1 September 2020.

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