Champions League Knockout Phase Play-off Draw: Real Madrid Face Benfica Test, Paris Set for Monaco Clash
The road to Budapest has officially heated up. The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw was conducted on Friday, January 30, 2026, delivering a set of mouth-watering ties that promise high drama in February.
Headlining the fixtures is a classic European encounter between holders Real Madrid and Portuguese giants Benfica, while Paris Saint-Germain faces a tricky domestic rival in AS Monaco on the continental stage.
Heavyweights Collide
Real Madrid, the kings of Europe, will travel to Lisbon for the first leg against Benfica on February 17. Despite their pedigree, Madrid finds themselves in the play-off round rather than securing an automatic Round of 16 berth, adding immense pressure to this tie. The return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu is set for February 25, where Los Blancos will look to seal their progression.
Meanwhile, French football takes center stage as AS Monaco locks horns with Paris Saint-Germain. It is a rare all-French affair in Europe’s elite competition, ensuring Ligue 1 will have at least one representative in the next round. The first leg takes place in the principality on February 17, with the decider in Paris a week later.
The Full Draw
The draw produced intriguing matchups across the board, featuring heavy hitters like Juventus, Inter, and Atlético de Madrid, all fighting for survival.
Here is the confirmed schedule for the knockout phase play-offs:
First Legs
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
- Galatasaray vs Juventus (18:45 CET)
- AS Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
- Benfica vs Real Madrid
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
- Qarabağ vs Newcastle United (18:45 CET)
- Club Brugge vs Atlético de Madrid
- Bodø/Glimt vs Inter
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Second Legs
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
- Atlético de Madrid vs Club Brugge (18:45 CET)
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos
- Inter vs Bodø/Glimt
- Newcastle United vs Qarabağ
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
- Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund (18:45 CET)
- Juventus vs Galatasaray
- Paris Saint-Germain vs AS Monaco
- Real Madrid vs Benfica
The Reward
The eight winners of these ties will advance to the Round of 16, where they will join the top eight finishers from the league phase who have already qualified. That elite group waiting in the wings includes Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting CP, and Tottenham Hotspur.
The play-off winners will be unseeded in the Round of 16 draw, meaning they will face one of the aforementioned group winners.
Road to Budapest
With the final set for the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on May 30, 2026, the stakes could not be higher. For teams like Newcastle United and Bodø/Glimt, this represents a historic opportunity to extend their European dreams, while giants like Real Madrid and Juventus simply cannot afford to slip up this early.
Mark your calendars for mid-February; the Champions League is back.
