Still reeling from Wednesday’s costly defeat to Benfica, Real Madrid will today learn who awaits them in the Champions League’s knockout-phase playoffs.
It’s an unexpected setback for the 15-time European champions, who went into the league phase’s final round of games sitting comfortably in the top eight, in a superb position to clinch direct qualification for the round of 16.
They didn’t. Madrid’s loss in Lisbon stripped them of that privilege and sent a team beset by doubts into the playoffs, with a big black cloud hanging over Álvaro Arbeloa’s men.
Who can Real Madrid draw?
Having finished ninth in the final league-phase standings, Madrid will now face either Bodø/Glimt or, once again, Benfica. Those teams finished 23rd and 24th in the table, and the return leg will be at the Bernabéu - but that’s no reason to relax. Far from it. The Portuguese side ran right through Madrid just two days ago, emboldened by José Mourinho on the touchline, while the Norwegians punched their ticket by beating Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano - no small feat.
What to know about Madrid’s possible UCL rivals
If Madrid draw Bodø/Glimt, they’ll have to travel to the Arctic Circle. It’s the northernmost club ever to play in the Champions League. Temperatures in February are below freezing, and their pitch is synthetic, not natural grass. Coach Knutsen has built a distinctive, possession‑minded team with real identity and standout talent like Hauge. When they seemed all but eliminated, they snatched a draw in Dortmund, beat Manchester City at home, and then went to the Metropolitano on the final day and won. That’s no small statement.
Benfica is no less dangerous for Madrid. That much was clear from the extraordinary performance Mourinho pulled from his hat to snatch a dramatic qualification. The energy and quality of Andreas Schjelderup, Gianluca Prestianni, and Heorhiy Sudakov—combined with Vangelis Pavlidis’ scoring punch—gave Madrid their toughest test since the coaching change. And Mourinho’s presence on the opposite bench always brings an extra layer of drama. Rodrygo Goes and Raúl Asencio, for the record, are suspended and will miss the first leg.
When is the Champions League draw?
The draw for the knockout-phase playoffs takes place at 6:00 a.m. ET today, Friday Jan. 30, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. You can stream the draw live on UEFA’s website and on the Champions League app.