By Dennis Okechukwu
Benfica could be set for another heavyweight UEFA Champions League showdown, with Real Madrid or Inter Milan looming as potential opponents in the knockout phase play-offs following Friday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Portuguese giants are among the unseeded teams in the 2025/26 Champions League knockout phase play-off draw, which features clubs that finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase. Benfica’s unseeded status leaves them vulnerable to facing one of Europe’s elite, including serial champions Real Madrid or Italian giants Inter.
Under UEFA’s new draw format, seeded teams such as Real Madrid and Inter are paired against clubs ranked lower in the league phase, increasing the likelihood of high-profile clashes at this early knockout stage. As a result, Benfica could once again be reunited with Real Madrid, a familiar foe from previous Champions League campaigns, or face Inter Milan in a tie that promises tactical intensity and continental pedigree.
The knockout phase play-offs will be contested over two legs in February, with first-leg matches scheduled for 17 and 18 February, and the return fixtures on 24 and 25 February. Seeded teams are expected to host the second leg, a factor that could further complicate Benfica’s task should they be drawn against one of the tournament favourites.
The draw will be conducted at the House of European Football in Nyon and streamed live on UEFA platforms. The eight winners from the play-offs will advance to the round of 16, with the next draw set for 27 February.
With the road to the final in Budapest taking shape, Benfica now await their fate, knowing that a clash with Real Madrid or Inter Milan would test their ambitions—but also offer a chance to make a powerful statement on Europe’s biggest stage.