Back-to-back 2-0 victories over German opposition saw Tottenham scale to the lofty heights of fourth in the league phase table. As a result, the Europa League champions will have February off and have ample time to prepare for the round of 16.
Sure, the schedule was kind, but we as a fanbase, having endured NS Murs, Dinamo Zagreb, Vitesse, Royal Antwerp, etc, etc, should not scoff at such efficient work on the continent. Thomas Frank and his players have let us down domestically, but so far have delivered under the lights.
In previous years, we could've had eight potential opponents in the round of 16. By the time the playoff round concludes, there will be just two, but for now, there are four possibilities for Frank's side.
Friday's playoff draw has pitted Juventus against Galatasaray and Atlético Madrid against Club Brugge. The winners of those two ties will meet either Spurs or Liverpool in the following round.
Here's how I rank the four potential options based on preference. Fourth is who I'd least like to see us paired against.
4. Juventus
Juventus may have ended the league phase with a drab draw against Monaco, but I think they're the most dangerous of our four potential opponents under Luciano Spalletti.
The Scudetto winner with Napoli has helped Juventini quickly forget the dreariness of Igor Tudor's reign. Spalletti's got the Bianconeri playing some wonderful football, and they've suddenly emerged as outsiders in the Serie A title race after thumping Antonio Conte's Napoli 3-0.
This may be a youngish Juve team, but there's Champions League heritage in abundance and I think that pedigree matters in the knockout rounds. Of course, there's the superstar talent of Kenan Yildiz in attack, while Gleison Bremer's return from injury has steadied them defensively. The midfield's purring, too, with Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram in fine form.
There's scope for Spalletti's dynamic framework to overwhelm Frank's more primitive approach, and the Italians also boast the inherent grit to see out two-legged ties.
Meeting Juve in the round of 16 is no disaster, though. In fact, I'd look forward to this tie. While only the injured Ben Davies was around for our cruel knockout stage defeat in 2018, there should be a vengeful mood in N17 should we encounter the Old Lady again.
3. Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid can be a real pain, but their track record in Europe since last reaching the final in 2016 is pretty underwhelming.
The two-time finalists under Diego Simeone have since reached the semi-finals just once. Twice they've fallen in the group stages, and twice they've collapsed in the second leg of a knockout tie after winning the first leg at home.
If the return leg was in Madrid, I reckon I'd have Madrid fourth. I don't fancy a trip to the Metropolitano with a spot in the quarter-finals at stake, even if Bodø/Glimt strolled into the capital on Wednesday and extended their maiden Champions League campaign by beating Atléti 2-1.
This isn't a great Atléti team, and they haven't been special under Simeone for quite some time. I don't the two games would be pretty, but Frank's Lilywhites would have every chance of prevailing in a low-scoring knockout tie.
2. Club Brugge
I was surprised that Club Brugge made a managerial change at the end of 2025, with Ivan Leko coming in to replace Nicky Hayen. Hayen was responsible for guiding Brugge into the round of 16 last season, but domestic struggles in 2025/26 supposedly convinced the board to make a change.
Journeyman Leko had big boots to fill, and hosting Arsenal merely hours after being appointed meant the Croatian didn't get off to the best of starts. Since then, though, Brugge have been rampant. Their free-scoring run crucially continued on the final day of the league phase, as they thumped Marseille 3-0 to make the playoffs.
I liked Brugge's balance in possession under Hayen, and they're similarly dynamic and explosive under the new manager. Carlos Forbs is electric in transition, Hans Vanaken is an underrated master of his trade, and Aleksandar Stanković will soon earn a big move, but they will also surrender chances defensively.
They enjoyed an excellent run in Europe last season, but Spurs could exploit Brugge's relative lack of experience on the big stage.
1. Galatasaray
I don't care for the big names, in truth. Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan and Davinson were all once or remain elite (okay, maybe not Big Dav), but Galatasaray remain incomplete as a collective.
Trips to Istanbul can be daunting, and the place will be electric for a potential round of 16 first leg, but we saw the now-eliminated Union Saint-Gilloise rock up to RAMS Park in the league phase, tame the ferocity, and steal all three points.
While the money they've splashed suggests Gala are ready to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage, the Turkish champions failed to win their final four league phase outings and now must bypass a resurgent Juve to reach the last 16. Victory over the Italian giants would ignite belief and render them dangerous, perhaps forcing me to reconsider.
At this moment in time, though, I don't buy 'em.