The draw for the UEFA Champions League knockout play-offs and the Round of 16 has been completed, setting the stage for several high-profile clashes as Europe’s elite competition enters its decisive phase.
One of the standout fixtures will see Real Madrid lock horns with Benfica, rekindling a fierce rivalry just weeks after their dramatic encounter on the final day of the league phase.
In that thrilling showdown in Portugal, Benfica, under José Mourinho, stunned the Spanish giants 4–2, a result that secured the Portuguese side a place in the play-offs while denying Madrid automatic qualification for the Round of 16.
Under the competition’s format, teams were paired based on their final league-phase positions. Clubs that finished 9th to 16th were placed in the seeded pot, while those ranked 17th to 24th occupied the unseeded pot, with each tie featuring a seeded team against an unseeded opponent.
The play-off draw has thrown up several mouth-watering matchups. Borussia Dortmund will face Atalanta, while Olympiacos have been paired with Bayer Leverkusen. Galatasaray will battle Juventus, Club Brugge will meet Atletico Madrid, and Monaco have been drawn against Paris Saint-Germain.
Elsewhere, Qarabag will take on Newcastle United, Benfica will clash with Real Madrid, and Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt will face Inter Milan.
The two-legged knockout play-off matches are scheduled for February 17–18 and February 24–25. Winners will advance to the Round of 16, set for March 10–11 and March 17–18, as the race for the coveted Champions League trophy intensifies.
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