Champions League playoff draw: José Mourinho and Real Madrid reunite, and Newcastle’s kind path
High-profile ties await in the Champions League knockout stages as PSG face rivals Monaco, Real Madrid meet Benfica again and Newcastle play Qarabag in February
High-profile ties await in the Champions League knockout stages as PSG face rivals Monaco, Real Madrid meet Benfica again and Newcastle play Qarabag in February
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw has produced some compelling ties involving some of Europe’s most recognised clubs.
In Friday’s draw at the House of European Football in Nyon, Monaco were paired with domestic rivals Paris Saint‑Germain, Benfica will face Real Madrid, and Newcastle were drawn against Qarabağ in their bid to reach the round of 16.
PSG and Monaco have already face each other once earlier this season, with the latter grabbing a 1-0 home victory in Ligue 1 back in late November. That was Monaco’s first win in six games against PSG across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Benfica are set to lock horns again following the Portuguese side’s dramatic 4-2 victory in the last game of the League Phase.
With Benfica in desperate need of goal to clinch a top-24 spot, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin headed home from a corner kick to help his team secure qualification to the knockout stages.
That goal dealt Real Madrid a major blow, as Los Blancos narrowly missed out on a top-eight finish which would have sealed them a spot in the Round of 16.
Following a 1-1 draw at PSG on Wednesday, Newcastle finished 12th in the table with four wins, two draws and two losses in eight League Phase games.
Their upcoming rivals, Qarabağ, might have been thrashed 6-0 by Liverpool at Anfield, but they managed to finish 22nd, clinching a spot in the playoffs.
The road to Budapest 🏆#UCL pic.twitter.com/3rNdxy6Rys
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026
When will the playoff ties be played?
The Champions League playoff round will be contested over two legs in February. The first legs are scheduled for 17 and 18 February, with the second legs to follow on 24 and 25 February.
Each pair of fixtures will decide which eight teams progress to the last 16, where they will join the top eight clubs who qualified directly from the league phase.
Seeded teams, including Real Madrid, PSG and Newcastle, will play the return leg at home as a reward for their higher finishing positions.
Who could each team play next?
The winners of PSG vs Monaco and Qarabag vs Newcastle will face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, the winners of Benfica vs Real Madrid and Inter vs Bodø/Glimt will take on either Sporting CP or Manchester City.
The eight teams that come through the knockout phase playoffs will advance to the round of 16, with the draw scheduled to take place on Friday, February 27, 2026.
