Mbappe Penalty Earns Real Madrid Late Win Over 9-man Rayo
Digest more
Newcastle United, Real Madrid, PSG and more have discovered their respective Champions League playoff round opponents.
A few weeks after his stunning victory at the Estadio Da Luz, Jose Mourinho will be reunited with his former club Real Madrid in the Champions League after Benfica were handed a knockout playoff against the 15-time champions.
3don MSN
Champions League draw: Real Madrid faces Benfica again, PSG vs. Monaco and Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Real Madrid faces an immediate rematch with Benfica after the teams were drawn together in the Champions League playoffs on Friday. Benfica beat Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday to deny the 15-time European champion direct qualification to the round of 16 and force it into the uncertainty of the playoffs.
The draw for the play-off round in this season’s Champions League took place on Friday morning. The teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase learned their opponents for next month's knockout round.
Real Madrid will face José Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League’s Round of 32. The first leg will be played at the Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon o February 17th/18th, with the return leg taking place at the Santiago Bernabéu on February 24th/25th.
The eight knockout phase play-off ties in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League are now set following the draw on Friday. Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026 Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026 Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026 Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026 Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
After the ignominy of falling out of the Champions League top eight on Wednesday via a defeat at Benfica — which featured the Portuguese side’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a stoppage-time header to send his team through — the two clubs have been drawn to face each other in February’s play-off round.
A tough road in the knockout stage stands between Los Blancos and their 16th Champions League title.
On the heels of Wednesday's final day of league play, the UEFA Champions League knockout round matchups have been set.
THE Champions League play-off draw has concluded – and there are some thrilling ties to look forward to. Newcastle are the only English side that missed out on a top-eight spot and will face
Friday’s draw set up some tantalising fixtures to start the knockout stages.