Benfica will face Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs, just weeks after their dramatic league phase clash. The meeting stands out as the headline tie of the round after the draws were made on Friday.
On Wednesday, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s stunning 98th-minute goal sealed a 4-2 victory over the Spanish giants.
That late drama ensured Jose Mourinho’s side finished within the play-off positions and set up another blockbuster encounter.
Elsewhere, Newcastle United will meet Qarabag after finishing 12th in the league phase standings. Meanwhile, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who placed 11th, were paired with Ligue 1 rivals Monaco.
The two-legged play-offs feature teams ranked between ninth and 24th after the league phase. The first legs are scheduled for 17–18 February, with the return fixtures taking place a week later.
The final destination is already confirmed, with Budapest preparing for a historic night. The Puskás Aréna in Hungary will host the 2025–26 Champions League final on 30 May.
Qarabag enter the play-offs after finishing 22nd, recording three wins, one draw and four defeats. They ended their campaign with a heavy 6-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.
However, the Azerbaijan champions showed resilience earlier in the competition. They avoided defeat against an English side for the first time by drawing 2-2 with Chelsea in November.
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The winner of Newcastle’s tie will advance to face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16. That potential pathway adds extra intrigue to an already demanding draw.
Automatic qualifiers and the road to Budapest
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham all finished inside the top eight. As a result, they qualified directly for the last 16 without contesting the play-offs.
The draw for the last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held on 27 February. That ceremony will map out the remaining route to European glory.
Below is the full Champions League play-offs draw, featuring several heavyweight clashes.
Champions League 2025/26 Play-offs draw (Full list)
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Monaco vs Paris St-Germain
Qarabag vs Newcastle United
Galatasaray vs Juventus
Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen.
Tags: Champions League 2025/26 play-offs, #UCL, #ChampionsLeague, #HalaMadrid, #CFC, #COYG, #COYS, #COYB, #AFC, #YNWA, #LFC, #THFC, #MCFC, Benfica, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Qarabag.
