Real Madrid have been paired once more with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica following Friday’s Champions League play-off draw, setting up an immediate rematch between the two European heavyweights. Meanwhile defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will lock horns with domestic rivals Monaco in another eye-catching tie.
The Spanish giants were pushed into the play-off round after a dramatic defeat to Benfica in their final league-phase match. The Portuguese side secured a thrilling 4–2 victory, sealed deep into stoppage time by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, a result that allowed Benfica to grab the final qualification spot at the expense of Marseille. That loss also dropped Madrid out of the top eight in the standings, denying them direct entry into the last 16.
Benfica’s route to the play-offs was nothing short of remarkable. After losing their first four matches in the new league format, the Lisbon club rallied strongly, winning three of their last four games to finish 24th overall and keep their European campaign alive. Mourinho, who returned to Benfica earlier this season, now prepares to face a club he once managed with great success, having led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013.
History adds extra spice to the contest, with the two teams last meeting in a European Cup final back in 1962, when Benfica defeated Madrid 5–3 to lift the trophy.
Paris Saint-Germain also found themselves outside the automatic qualification spots after a mixed league phase that saw them finish 11th. The French champions will travel to Monaco for the first leg, wary of an opponent that defeated them at home in Ligue 1 earlier in the season. While Monaco have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, they managed to secure their play-off berth with a draw against Juventus.
Elsewhere in the draw, Newcastle United were handed a favourable-looking tie against Azerbaijan’s Qarabag, while Italian giants Inter Milan will face Norwegian champions Bodo Glimt. Juventus take on Galatasaray, Atletico Madrid meet Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund clash with Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen face Olympiacos.
The two-leg play-off matches will be played in February, with the winners progressing to the last 16 in March. The Champions League final this season is scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.