By Our Reporter
Real Madrid will face Benfica in the UEFA Champions League play-off round after the draw for the knockout stage was held on January 30, 2026, at the House of European Football in Nyon. The two-legged ties will take place in February, with winners advancing to the last 16 in March.
Benfica secured the final play-off spot by beating Real Madrid 4-2 in their last league-phase match, thanks to a dramatic 98th-minute goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. This result knocked Madrid out of the top eight, forcing them into the play-off round.
José Mourinho, who returned to Benfica in September for a second spell, will face his former club, where he previously won La Liga, Copa del Rey, and reached three Champions League semi-finals between 2010 and 2013.
Other key fixtures include:
*Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
*Newcastle United vs Qarabag
*Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
*Galatasaray vs Juventus
*Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
*Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
*Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Winners of these ties will join the eight teams already through to the last 16, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Sporting.
The 2026 Champions League final is scheduled for May 30 in Budapest.