Real Madrid must overcome Jose Mourinho’s Benfica to keep their Champions League dream alive after being paired with the Portuguese giants in the playoff round.
This comes two days after goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin‘s stoppage time winner sealed an epic 4-2 victory in Lisbon and denied Real a place in the top eight of the league phase.
Benfica’s incredible win brought the 2025-26 Champions League to life, but the playoff round promises more drama with heavyweight teams including Real, reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan all facing tough ties to reach the round of 16.
So, while the top eight league phase finishers can sit back and plot their path to the final in Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30 ahead of the round of 16, those teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase must now win a two-legged tie to keep their European campaign alive.
With the Blue Path and Silver Path now decided for the playoffs following Friday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland, who will make it through, and which major clubs could miss out?
First legs will be played on Feb. 17-18, and the second legs on Feb. 24-25
