Real Madrid have been drawn against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League play-off round, setting up a swift rematch following their recent league-phase encounter, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will face domestic rivals Monaco.
The draw, conducted on Friday, pairs Madrid with Benfica just days after the Portuguese side defeated the Spanish giants 4-2 in their final league-phase match on Wednesday. A dramatic 98th-minute goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin sealed the win and secured Benfica the final play-off berth ahead of Marseille, who were eliminated. The result also pushed Real Madrid out of the top eight in the league standings, denying them automatic qualification for the last 16 and forcing them into the play-offs.
Benfica’s qualification capped a remarkable turnaround, as they finished 24th in the 36-team league phase — the final qualifying position — after winning three of their last four matches, having lost their opening four games. Mourinho, who returned to Benfica for a second spell as head coach in September, previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning the La Liga title and Copa del Rey, and reaching the Champions League semi-finals in each of his three seasons.
The two sides last met in a European Cup final in 1962, when Benfica beat Real Madrid 5-3 to claim the second of their two continental titles.
Reigning champions PSG, who slipped to 11th place after winning just one of their final five league-phase matches, will take on Monaco in an all-French tie. The first leg will be played in Monaco, where PSG suffered a Ligue 1 defeat in November. Despite that result, Monaco have struggled for form in recent weeks, recording only one win in six matches since the start of the year and sitting 10th in Ligue 1, 21 points behind PSG. A goalless draw with Juventus on Wednesday, however, secured their place in the European play-offs.
PSG will be hoping to repeat last season’s success against domestic opposition, having thrashed Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-off round before going on to win the Champions League for the first time.
Elsewhere, Newcastle United were drawn against Azerbaijani side Qarabag, with the first leg scheduled for Baku, while Norway’s Bodo/Glimt face last season’s runners-up Inter Milan. Juventus will meet Galatasaray, Atletico Madrid take on Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund face Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against Olympiacos.
PSG and Newcastle, if successful, will face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16, while Real Madrid’s potential opponents at that stage are Manchester City or Sporting.
The two-legged play-off ties will be played in February, with first legs on February 17 and 18, and return fixtures on February 24 and 25. Winners will advance to the last 16 in March.
Already through to that stage are the top eight teams from the league phase, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City, alongside Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Sporting.
This season’s Champions League final is scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.
Champions League Play-off Fixtures:
Benfica (Portugal) vs Real Madrid (Spain)
Bodo/Glimt (Norway) vs Inter Milan (Italy)
Monaco (France) vs Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Qarabag (Azerbaijan) vs Newcastle United (England)
Galatasaray (Turkey) vs Juventus (Italy)
Club Brugge (Belgium) vs Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) vs Atalanta (Italy)
Olympiacos (Greece) vs Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
First legs: February 17/18; Second legs: February 24/25.
