Champions League knockout play-offs: Newcastle to face Qarabag as Real Madrid play Benfica 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
Monday 16 February 2026 11:21, UK
Newcastle will embark on a 5,000-mile round trip to face Qarabag on Wednesday after Benfica host Real Madrid in a rematch of their dramatic league-phase tie in the Champions League knock-out play-offs.
It is the first time Newcastle have reached the knockout rounds in Europe and they are tasked with an epic journey to Azerbaijan for the first leg before hosting the reverse fixture at St James' Park on February 24 amid a gruelling schedule with 14 games in 45 days.
Qarabag were hammered 6-0 by Liverpool in the last round of the league phase, but did manage a 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea on matchday four.
Eddie Howe's side will face either Chelsea or Barcelona should they make it to the last 16.
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Perhaps the tie of the play-offs will be Jose Mourinho facing his former side Real Madrid, again. Benfica hosted the LaLiga side in the final league phase game, 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 team, the 15-time champions of Europe.
Champions League holders PSG also had to settle for a play-off spot after their draw at Newcastle in their final league-phase match and will face an all-French tie against Monaco.
Juventus have been drawn against Galatasaray, while fellow Italians Inter Milan face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who beat Manchester City in their penultimate league phase game.
Atletico Madrid will play Club Brugge, while Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen face Atalanta and Olympiakos respectively.
The draw for the round of 16 will be made on February 27.
Champions League knockout play-off fixtures
Tuesday February 17 - first legs
Galatasaray vs Juventus, 5.45pm
Benfica vs Real Madrid, 8pm
Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta, 8pm
Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain, 8pm
Wednesday February 18 - first legs
Qarabag vs Newcastle, 5.45pm
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan, 8pm
Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid, 8pm
Olympiakos vs Bayer Leverkusen, 8pm
Tuesday February 24 - second legs
Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge, 5.45pm
Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiakos, 8pm
Inter Milan vs Bodo/Glimt, 8pm
Newcastle vs Qarabag, 8pm
Wednesday February 25 - second legs
Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund, 5.45pm
Juventus vs Galatasaray, 8pm
Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco, 8pm
Real Madrid vs Benfica, 8pm
Who could English teams face in the round of 16?
Arsenal: Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Olympiakos or Leverkusen
Man City: Benfica, Real Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Inter
Chelsea: Qarabag, Newcastle, Monaco or PSG
Liverpool: Galatasaray, Juventus, Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid
Tottenham: Galatasaray, Juventus, Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid
Newcastle: Barcelona or Chelsea
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?
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.
