UEFA Champions League fans are in for another exciting phase of action following the completion of the draw for the round of 16 and knockout play-off fixtures.
One of the headline clashes will see Portuguese side Benfica lock horns once again with Spanish giants Real Madrid in a high-profile encounter.
The draw has revived memories of the dramatic meeting between both teams on the final day of the league phase. In that decisive clash played in Portugal, Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4–2 under the guidance of José Mourinho.
That victory proved pivotal, helping Benfica secure a place in the knockout play-offs while preventing Madrid from earning automatic qualification to the round of 16.
Teams were paired based on their final standings at the end of the league phase, with clubs ranked ninth to 16th placed in the seeded pot, while those finishing between 17th and 24th were unseeded. This structure ensured seeded teams were drawn against unseeded opponents in the knockout play-offs.
Full Champions League Knockout Play-off Fixtures:
- 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 play-off matches will be contested over two legs on February 17–18 and February 24–25. Teams that progress will advance to the round of 16, scheduled for March 10–11 and March 17–18.