Champions League knockout play-off draw: Newcastle to face Qarabag as Real Madrid and Benfica face rematch after league phase drama
Champions League holders PSG will face an all-French tie against Monaco in a bid to reach the Champions League round of 16; Juventus have been drawn against Galatasaray, while Inter Milan face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt; play-off ties will be played on February 17/18 and February 24/25
Friday 30 January 2026 12:37, UK
Newcastle have been drawn against Qarabag in their Champions League knockout play-off tie, while Benfica and Real Madrid will face each other again after a dramatic end to their league phase tie on Wednesday.
It is the first time the Magpies have reached the knockout rounds in Europe and make a 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan for the first leg on February 17 or 18.
As a seeded team, they will play their second leg at St James' Park on February 24 or 25.
It adds two more fixtures to an already congested February for Newcastle, with the play-off ties coming before Premier League games against Manchester City on February 21 and at home to Everton on February 28.
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Qarabag were hammered 6-0 by Liverpool in the last round of the league phase, but they did manage a 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea on matchday four.
Eddie Howe's men will face either Chelsea or Barcelona should they make it to the last 16.
But perhaps the tie of the play-offs will be Jose Mourinho facing his former side, Real Madrid, once again. Benfica hosted the LaLiga side in the final league phase game this week, and heading into the final minute, needed a goal to secure their place in the play-offs.
They were already leading 3-2 against nine-man Real Madrid when goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin headed home. The defeat condemned Alvaro Arbeloa's side to ninth place in the table and two extra play-off fixtures.
Benfica have now won three of the clubs' previous four European meetings, including the 1962 European Cup final, and it will be another chance for Mourinho to get one over on his old club, the 15-time champions of Europe.
Champions League holders PSG also had to settle for a play-off spot after their draw at Newcastle on Wednesday, and will face an all-French tie with Monaco.
Juventus have been drawn against Galatasaray, while fellow Italians Inter Milan face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who beat Manchester City in their penultiamte league phase game.
Atletico Madrid will play Club Brugge, while Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen face Atalanta and Olympiacos respectively.
The draw for the round of 16 will be made after the conclusion of the play-off fixtures on February 27.
Champions League knockout play-off draw in full
- Benfica vs Real Madrid
- Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
- Monaco vs PSG
- Qarabag vs Newcastle
- Galatasaray vs Juventus
- Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Who could English teams face in the round of 16?
Arsenal - Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Olympiacos or Leverkusen
Man City - Benfica, Real Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Inter
Chelsea - Qarabag, Newcastle, Monaco or PSG
Liverpool or Tottenham - Galatasaray, Juventus, Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid
Newcastle - Chelsea or Barcelona
England set for fifth Champions League spot
One of the benefits of English teams performing so strongly in Europe is that the Premier League is now all but certain to repeat last season's feat of clinching a fifth Champions League spot by finishing in the top two of UEFA's coefficient table.
With five Premier League teams having gone straight into the Champions League last 16, and with all nine Premier League teams in Europe still alive in their respective competitions, England sits comfortably top of the table ahead of Germany.
Newcastle were the beneficiaries last season, clinching their place in this campaign's Champions League with a fifth-placed Premier League finish. Now the door is open for another side to take advantage as English teams continue to perform strongly on the continent.
When are the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stages?
Play-off draw: January 30, 2026
Knockout play-offs: February 17-18 and 24-25, 2026
Round of 16: March 10-11 and 17-18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and 14-15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6, 2026
Final: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Where is the Champions League final being held in 2026?
The 2025/26 Champions League final will take place in Budapest at the Puskas Arena on Saturday May 30.
