UCL: BENFICA DRAW REAL MADRID AGAIN AS R16, KNOCKOUT PLAY-OFF FIXTURES CONFIRMED (FULL DRAW)

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

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By: Sefiu Ajape

The draw for the Champions League last-16 and knockout play-offs has been concluded, producing several eye-catching fixtures.

One of the standout ties will see Portuguese giants Benfica face Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

The two sides last met on the final day of the league phase, where Jose Mourinho’s men secured a 4-2 victory in Portugal. That result allowed Benfica to sneak into the playoffs and denied Madrid an automatic place in the round of 16.

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According to the competition format, clubs were paired based on their final positions in the league phase to form seeded and unseeded pairs. Teams that finished between ninth and 16th were placed in the seeded group, while those from 17th to 24th made up the unseeded group.

PLAY-OFF DRAWS

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Galatasaray vs Juventus
Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
Monaco vs PSG
Qarabag vs Newcastle
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter

The knockout playoff round will be played on February 17-18 and February 24-25, while the round of 16 fixtures are scheduled for March 10-11 and March 17-18.