Champions League playoffs 2nd leg to begin Tuesday, round prior to league phase

Galatasaray to face Young Boys on Tuesday in Istanbul after 3-2 defeat in 1st leg in Switzerland

By Can Erozden

The UEFA Champions League playoffs second leg will begin on Tuesday, which is the round prior to the league phase.

Mauro Icardi-led Galatasaray, one of the tournament frequenters, will play against Swiss opponents Young Boys on Tuesday in Istanbul after a 3-2 defeat in the first leg played on Aug. 21 in Bern, Switzerland.

Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi's double against Young Boys in the first leg kept Galatasaray's hopes alive. The Swiss team have a slight advantage before their visit. Galatasaray defender Abdulkerim Bardakci will miss the second leg as he was sent off in the previous match.

The Galatasaray vs. Young Boys match at Istanbul's RAMS Park will kick off at 1900GMT.

Tuesday will also see the Sparta Prague vs. Malmo, and Salzburg vs. Dynamo Kyiv matches. Sparta Prague and Salzburg took convincing away wins by 2-0 each to be on the verge of qualifying for the league phase.

All matches on Tuesday will start at 1900GMT.

On Wednesday evening Lille will visit Slavia Prague in the Czech capital over a 2-0 win in France. Canada star Jonathan David and Edon Zhegrova from Kosovo were the scorers for Lille in the first leg.

The Slavia Prague vs. Lille game at Prague's Eden Arena will begin at 1900GMT.

Winners will advance to the league phase.

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League league phase draw will be held Thursday.

- Playoffs 2nd leg fixtures

Tuesday

Galatasaray vs. Young Boys (2-3)

Sparta Prague vs. Malmo (2-0)

Salzburg vs. Dynamo Kyiv (2-0)

Wednesday

Qarabag vs. GNK Dinamo (0-3)

Slovan Bratislava vs. Midtjylland (1-1)

Crvena Zvezda vs. Bodo/Glimt (1-2)