What is the story about?
Real Madrid will face Benfica once again in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League playoffs just days after they played a dramatic tie in the last game of the league
stage. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will once again play an all-French tie in this round, like they did last year, with a clash against Monaco this time. The 16 teams that will play the playoffs have been divided into two brackets, with four matches in the Blue path and another four in the silver path. The top eight teams will also be put in one path, but that will be decided after the first round of the knockout ends. The playoff stage will take place on 17th/18th February (first leg) and 24th/25th February (second leg).
UEFA Champions League Playoff Draw
Real Madrid vs. Benfica
Inter vs. Bodø/Glimt
PSG vs. Monaco
Newcastle vs. Qarabağ
Juventus vs. Galatasaray
Atleti vs. Club Brugge
Atalanta vs. B. Dortmund
Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos
The seeded teams will play at home in the second leg. This means the teams listed first above will play away first before getting the chance to seal the tie at their home stadium. The unseeded teams will have to travel away for their second leg.
For those unversed, teams that finished between 9th and 16th are seeded, while those between 17th and 24th are unseeded.
The bracket was made in a way that teams were drawn according to their positions, as the 9th and 10th ranked team are playing either the 23rd or 24th position.
The draw for the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will take place after the playoffs on 27th February. Here is who can face whom in the last 16. -
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Bracket-
Real Madrid vs. Benfica Winner faces: Sporting CP or Manchester City
Inter Milan vs. Bodø/Glimt Winner faces: Sporting CP or Manchester City
PSG vs. Monaco Winner faces: Barcelona or Chelsea
Newcastle vs. Qarabağ Winner faces: Barcelona or Chelsea
Juventus vs. Galatasaray Winner faces: Liverpool or Tottenham
Atleti vs. Club Brugge Winner faces: Liverpool or Tottenham
Atalanta vs. B. Dortmund Winner faces: Arsenal or Bayern Munich
Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos Winner faces: Arsenal or Bayern Munich
UEFA Champions League QF And SF Bracket -
Silver Path
Quarter-Final 1 Path
R16 Match A: (Atalanta / B. Dortmund) vs. Arsenal/Bayern Munich
R16 Match B: (Leverkusen / Olympiacos) vs. Arsenal/Bayern Munich
QF 1: Winner A vs. Winner B
Quarter-Final 2 Path
R16 Match C: (Juventus / Galatasaray) vs. Liverpool/Tottenham
R16 Match D: (Atleti / Club Brugge) vs. Liverpool/Tottenham
QF 2: Winner C vs. Winner D
Semi-Final 1: Winner of QF 1 vs. Winner of QF 2
Blue Path
Quarter-Final 3 Path
R16 Match E: (PSG / Monaco) vs. Barcelona/Chelsea
R16 Match F: (Newcastle / Qarabağ) vs. Barcelona/Chelsea
QF 3: Winner E vs. Winner F
Quarter-Final 4 Path
R16 Match G: (Real Madrid / Benfica) vs. Sporting CP/Manchester
R16 Match H: (Inter Milan / Bodø/Glimt) vs. Sporting CP/Manchester City
QF 4: Winner G vs. Winner H
Semi-Final 2: Winner of QF 3 vs. Winner of QF 4
