Champions League play-offs produce three tight first-leg draws

By Ihuoma Inyama

The race for the final places in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase got off to a tightly contested start on Tuesday, with all three first-leg fixtures ending in draws.

Dinamo Zagreb 2-2 Viking

Dinamo Zagreb and Viking produced the night’s highest-scoring encounter, sharing four goals in Croatia. The 2-2 result leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg, with neither side able to establish an advantage.

 Fenerbahçe 1-1 Lyon

In one of the most anticipated play-off ties, Fenerbahçe were held to a 1-1 draw by Lyon in Istanbul.

Both clubs came into the tie with significant European pedigree, making the result a valuable one for Lyon away from home while leaving Fenerbahçe needing a result in the second leg to secure their place in the league phase.

Levski Sofia 0-0 AEK Athens

There was even less to separate Levski Sofia and AEK Athens, with neither team finding the breakthrough in Bulgaria.

The goalless draw means the entire tie will now be decided in Athens, where one goal could potentially make all the difference.

Everything Still Open

With three draws from three first legs, none of the six teams managed to gain a decisive advantage.

The seven play-off winners will claim the remaining places in the 36-team Champions League league phase, while the defeated teams will drop into the Europa League league phase.

For Dinamo Zagreb, Viking, Fenerbahçe, Lyon, Levski Sofia and AEK Athens, the message is simple:

The real battle starts in the second leg.