The UEFA Champions League play-off round draw has produced compelling fixtures, headlined by an immediate rematch between Real Madrid and José Mourinho’s Benfica. This pairing comes just days after Benfica’s dramatic 4-2 victory over the Spanish giants, secured by a 98th-minute goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin that propelled the Portuguese side into this qualifying stage while eliminating Marseille.
The result proved doubly consequential for Real Madrid, whose defeat dropped them from the top eight positions that guarantee direct advancement to the last 16. Benfica completed a remarkable turnaround to reach the play-offs, climbing from 24th position in the 36-team league phase by winning three of their final four matches after suffering four consecutive losses initially.
Mourinho’s return to Benfica in September adds narrative depth to this encounter, with the Portuguese manager having previously guided Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, delivering one La Liga title and one Copa del Rey while reaching three consecutive Champions League semi-finals. The clubs share historical significance, having met in the 1962 European Cup final where Benfica claimed their second continental title with a 5-3 victory.
Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain face domestic rivals Monaco after slipping to 11th in the league phase with just one win in their final five outings. PSG will travel to Monaco for the first leg, mindful of their November Ligue 1 defeat at the Stade Louis II. Despite Monaco’s recent struggles—managing only one victory in six matches since January—they secured their play-off position with a scoreless draw against Juventus.
Additional notable pairings include Newcastle United’s journey to face Azerbaijani surprise qualifiers Qarabag, Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt testing themselves against last season’s runners-up Inter Milan, and Juventus confronting Galatasaray. Other fixtures feature Atlético Madrid versus Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund against Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen meeting Olympiacos.
The play-off round will be contested over two legs in February, with winners advancing to the last 16 in March. Already qualified for the knockout stage are eight group winners including five English Premier League sides (Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Manchester City), alongside Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Sporting.
This season’s Champions League final will be held in Budapest on May 30th, culminating European football’s premier club competition.