UCL knockout play-offs: RM could face Benfica again, with Man City awaiting

The league phase of the UEFA Champions League has concluded in full, and the knockout stage draw has been confirmed. Real Madrid, who suffered a 2-4 defeat to Benfica, have been placed in the same pot as Benfica for the play-off ties, with Norway’s Bodo/Glimt as their other potential opponent.

The complete pairings for the Champions League knockout play-offs are as follows:

Real Madrid/Inter Milan vs Bodo Glimt/Benfica

Paris Saint‑Germain/Newcastle United vs Monaco/Qarabağ

Juventus/Atlético Madrid vs Club Brugge/Galatasaray

Atalanta/Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund/Olympiacos

Knockout Stage Matchups

Time of the Knockout Play‑Off Draw

11:00 UTC on Friday, January 30th, 2026

Rules for the Knockout Play‑Off Draw

The knockout play-off draw will be grouped based on the league phase rankings. Teams finishing from 9th to 16th place will be seeded teams, while those ranked 17th to 24th will be unseeded teams. Seeded teams will play the first leg away and the second leg at home in the two-legged tie.

For the draw, the 16 teams will be divided into four groups. Teams ranked 9th, 10th, 23rd and 24th will form one group, teams ranked 11th, 12th, 21st and 22nd will form another group, and so on. The draw will start with the unseeded teams first, after which seeded teams will be drawn to face them as opponents.

Knockout Play‑Off Match Dates

First leg: February 18th and 19th

Second leg: February 25th and 26th