Real Madrid will face S.L. Benfica, managed by former coach Jose Mourinho, in the UEFA Champions League playoff round after slipping out of the automatic qualification spots, according to the draw results released Tuesday. This fixture follows a decisive league phase match where Benfica defeated the Spanish club four-two, securing their playoff berth via a late goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. This scenario forces Madrid into the extra knockout phase ahead of the Round of 16.
Benfica's qualification pathway was notably precarious; the Portuguese side occupied one of the bottom playoff slots after finishing twenty-fourth in the 36-team league phase. Their late surge, which included winning three of their final four matches, was essential to surpassing teams that were eliminated entirely. Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning a La Liga title, returns to face his former employers in a high-stakes European contest.
Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, registered an 11th-place finish in the league phase after securing only one victory in their last five outings, necessitating a playoff tie against domestic competitor AS Monaco. PSG will travel to Monaco for the first leg, though the principality side faces inconsistent recent form, reporting only one win in six games since the start of the year.
Despite Monaco's recent struggles, they secured their playoff position following a zero-zero draw with Juventus, which was sufficient to advance from the group stage. This matchup echoes last season when PSG eliminated French opposition Brest in the playoffs before ultimately winning the tournament for the first time in their history.
Other notable playoff pairings include Newcastle United being installed as favorites against Azerbaijan's Qarabag, with the first leg scheduled for Baku. Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt face a difficult challenge against last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan, as reported by UEFA officials.
The two-legged playoff ties are scheduled to take place across February, with the aggregate winners progressing to the Round of 16 fixtures slated for March 10-11 and March 17-18. The final match of this season's competition is set to be staged at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30.
This playoff structure introduces significant volatility into the competition, as eight teams that performed adequately in the initial phase must now navigate an additional qualification hurdle to reach the established top eight.
