Benfica and Real Madrid will renew their rivalry in the Champions League play-offs just three weeks after their extraordinary meeting in the league phase, underlining the fine margins that defined the new competition format.
The sides last met on Wednesday, when Benfica secured a remarkable 4-2 victory over the Spanish champions thanks to a sensational 98th-minute goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, sealing a memorable night for José Mourinho’s team.
Elsewhere in the play-off draw, Newcastle will face Qarabag after finishing 12th in the league phase, while reigning champions Paris St-Germain, who ended in 11th, have been paired with domestic rivals Monaco.
The two-legged play-offs involve teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase. First legs will be played on 17–18 February, with the return fixtures scheduled for the following week. The final of the 2025–26 Champions League will take place at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on 30 May.
Qarabag concluded the league phase in 22nd place, recording three wins, one draw and four defeats. Their campaign ended with a heavy 6-0 loss away to Liverpool, and the Azerbaijani champions have yet to beat a Premier League side in nine attempts. However, they did make history earlier in the competition by avoiding defeat against English opposition for the first time, drawing 2-2 with Chelsea in November.
The winner of the tie between Newcastle and Qarabag will progress to face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16.
Five Premier League clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham — finished inside the top eight of the league phase, earning automatic qualification for the last 16 and avoiding the play-offs altogether.
The draw for the remainder of the competition, including the last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, will take place on 27 February.
Champions League play-off draw
What happens after the play-offs?
The eight play-off winners will advance to the last 16, where they will be joined by the top eight teams from the league phase. From that stage onward, the competition follows a traditional knockout format, with all ties played over two legs except for the final.
League-phase rankings will continue to influence seeding. Teams that finished in the top eight are seeded for the last 16 and will host the second leg of their ties. This season also marks the first time league-phase positions affect seeding for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Teams finishing first to fourth in the league phase will be seeded for the quarter-finals, giving them home advantage in the second leg if they reach that stage. The top two teams from the league phase will also be seeded for the semi-finals, again earning the benefit of playing the return leg at home.
If a seeded team is eliminated before the quarter-finals or semi-finals, the side that beats them inherits their seeding position.
Knockout phase dates
