Champions League 2025-26 Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw: Benfica Faces Real Madrid, PSG Takes on Monaco

The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw has been officially conducted, determining eight thrilling matchups for February 2026. Held on January 30, 2026, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, the draw unveiled some compelling ties featuring European football’s elite clubs. Most notably, Benfica faces Real Madrid in a dramatic rematch, while reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will contest an all-French battle against Monaco.

Complete Champions League UCL Knockout Phase Play-Off Fixtures

The eight play-off pairings feature 16 teams competing over two legs across February 2026. These matches will determine which eight clubs advance to join the top eight seeded teams in the round of 16.

The Benfica vs Real Madrid Drama

The standout tie pits Benfica against Real Madrid in a high-stakes rematch. Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the league phase with a last-minute header from Portuguese goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, sealing their place in the knockout rounds and forcing Real Madrid into the play-off stage. This dramatic conclusion adds significant intrigue to their two-legged encounter.

Real Madrid must face their former manager Jose Mourinho, who returned to Benfica for a second spell in September. Mourinho previously managed Real from 2010 to 2013, winning La Liga and reaching three consecutive Champions League semifinals. Benfica have won three of the clubs’ previous four European meetings, including the 1962 European Cup final when they defeated Real Madrid 5-3.

PSG and Monaco All-French Clash

Champions League holders PSG will face an all-French tie against Monaco in a bid to reach the Champions League round of 16. PSG’s path to the play-offs came after an inconsistent league phase, while Monaco secured their position through consistent performances. This domestic showdown adds compelling French football drama to the UCL knockout stage.

Other Notable Champions League Matchups

Newcastle have been drawn against Qarabag in their Champions League knockout play-off tie, marking the first time the Magpies have reached the knockout rounds in Europe, making a 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan for the first leg. Juventus have been drawn against Galatasaray, while Inter Milan face Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. Atletico Madrid will play Club Brugge, while Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen face Atalanta and Olympiacos respectively.

Champions League Play-Off Format and Structure

How the Champions League Draw Worked

The draw involved 16 teams finishing in positions nine to 24 in the league phase, with the top eight sides automatically qualifying for the round of 16. The seeding mechanism paired teams strategically to ensure competitive balance. Teams in positions 9 to 16 were seeded and will play their second legs at home, while teams in positions 17 to 24 were unseeded.

The draw methodology followed predetermined pairings where seeded teams could only face unseeded opponents from their designated bracket. This prevented certain matchups and ensured balanced competition throughout the knockout stage. All matches follow a two-leg format with play-off first legs on February 17-18 and second legs on February 24-25, 2026.

Automatic Round of 16 Qualifiers

Eight teams automatically advanced to the round of 16 by finishing in the top eight positions of the league phase. These sides include Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting CP, and Tottenham Hotspur. The eight clubs that prevail in the knockout phase play-offs progress to the round of 16, with the draw for which taking place on Friday February 27, 2026.

Key Details About the Play-Offs

All matches will be contested over two legs with the seeded teams (higher league phase finishers) playing their second legs at home, providing a potential advantage. Each team is expected to play once on Tuesday and once on Wednesday to manage fixture congestion. Matches kick off at 21:00 CET unless stadium or city clash circumstances require alternative scheduling. No restrictions prevent teams from the same country facing each other during the play-off phase.

Champions League Final Location

The 2025/26 Champions League final will take place at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday, May 30, 2026. This represents the culmination of Europe’s elite club competition, with the remaining champion crowned after nearly four months of intense knockout football.

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