Real Madrid have been drawn against Benfica while Paris Saint-Germain will take on Monaco in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs following Friday’s draw ceremony held in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draw produced a series of compelling fixtures as teams fight for qualification to the round of 16 under the competition’s restructured format, which has introduced a new pathway for clubs finishing outside the automatic qualification positions.
Borussia Dortmund will face Atalanta in the opening confirmed tie of the play-offs, while Turkish champions Galatasaray were paired with Italian giants Juventus in another marquee contest.
Atlético de Madrid will meet Belgian side Club Brugge, while Olympiacos have been drawn against Bayer Leverkusen in what will be a rematch of an earlier league-phase encounter between the two clubs.
Qarabağ, champions of Azerbaijan, were paired with Newcastle United in what represents the first-ever competitive meeting between both sides, offering the Premier League club a test against unfamiliar opposition.
Italian champions Inter will face Norwegian title-holders Bodø/Glimt, marking a historic occasion for the Scandinavian club, who will be making their first appearance in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The fixture between Benfica and Real Madrid carries particular significance following a dramatic league-phase finale played on January 28, 2026. The Portuguese side produced a stunning 4–2 victory over the Spanish giants at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, a result sealed by an extraordinary 98th-minute header from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
Real Madrid, who had taken the lead through French forward Kylian Mbappé and appeared set to secure direct qualification to the round of 16, were instead consigned to ninth place in the standings following the late collapse. The defeat forced them into the play-off round, setting up an immediate rematch with the side that denied them automatic progression.
Speaking ahead of the draw, UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti described the league phase as an “emotional rollercoaster,” noting that the dramatic conclusions to matches on Matchday Eight, including several late goals, had exceeded expectations and underscored the unpredictability of the competition.
Former Arsenal and France winger Robert Pires, who assisted with the draw proceedings, praised the revamped Champions League format and described the recent round of matches as both exciting and entertaining, reflecting positively on the changes introduced by European football’s governing body.
The knockout phase play-offs represent a new element within the Champions League structure, designed to increase competitiveness and provide additional high-stakes fixtures before the traditional round of 16. Teams that finished between ninth and 24th place in the expanded league phase must navigate this stage to reach the latter rounds of the competition.
The Champions League has undergone its most significant structural overhaul in decades, replacing the traditional group stage with a single league phase in which all 36 participating clubs are ranked in one table. The top eight finishers qualify directly for the round of 16, while those placed ninth to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs. Clubs finishing 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition entirely.
