By Samuel Adeola
The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs have thrown up blockbuster fixtures following Friday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland, as Europe’s elite clubs battle for places in the round of 16 under the new competition format.
Holders Real Madrid will face Benfica, while Paris Saint-Germain are drawn against fellow French side Monaco. Borussia Dortmund take on Atalanta, Galatasaray clash with Juventus, and Atlético Madrid were paired with Club Brugge.
Other ties will see Olympiacos face Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabağ meet Newcastle United in a first-ever encounter, and Inter Milan take on Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, who are making their maiden appearance in the Champions League knockout stage.
The Madrid-Benfica fixture carries added intrigue following their dramatic league-phase meeting on January 28, 2026, when Benfica stunned the Spanish giants 4-2 in Lisbon. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a sensational 98th-minute header, a result that pushed Real Madrid into the play-offs.
UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti described the league phase as an “emotional rollercoaster,” while former Arsenal and France star Robert Pires praised the new format for delivering excitement and entertainment.
