Benfica to play Real Madrid again as Champions League Knockout Play-Offs are Set

Benfica will face Real Madrid once again after the draw for the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs was officially announced.

The Portuguese giants headline a mouth-watering list of fixtures that will decide the final teams to reach the Round of 16, with several heavyweight clashes across Europe.

Champions League Knockout Play-Off Fixtures

Monaco vs Paris
Galatasaray vs Juventus
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

Kasper Hogh of Bodo/Glimt celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FK Bodo/Glimt and Manchester City at Aspmyra Stadion on January 20, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)

Qarabağ vs Newcastle United
Club Brugge vs Atlético Madrid
Bodø/Glimt vs Inter Milan
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

The pairings were determined based on teams’ final positions in the league phase, with clubs ranked 9th to 16th seeded and those finishing 17th to 24th unseeded.

Under UEFA’s format, seeded teams were drawn against unseeded sides, with the higher-ranked club scheduled to host the second leg, giving them a potential home advantage.

Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain is challenged by Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United FC at Parc des Princes on January 28, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Key dates

First legs: 17/18 February 2026
Second legs: 24/25 February 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final & semi-final draws: 27 February 202
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026

With former champions, dark horses and surprise packages all in the mix, the knockout play-offs promise high drama as clubs battle for a place among Europe’s elite.