Real Madrid will face Benfica in the UEFA Champions League playoff round next month following a dramatic league phase finish. The two-legged tie brings José Mourinho back to confront the Spanish giants.
The knockout playoff draw was conducted by UEFA in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday night, 31 January 2026, setting up a high-stakes fixture after the league phase concluded with 18 simultaneous matches. Real Madrid was forced into the playoff route after missing an automatic top-eight finish, while Benfica secured their spot through a memorable sequence on the final night of group play. Eight teams—Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, and Manchester City—have already secured their places in the top 16, leaving the remaining spots to be decided by the 9th-to-24th-place playoff bracket.
Benfica’s Dramatic Finish and Historical Edge Over Real Madrid
Benfica punched their playoff ticket under extraordinary circumstances with a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid at Da Luz on Wednesday, secured in part by a sensational goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Turbin. That result left Los Blancos outside the top eight, forcing them into the playoff bracket.
History favors the Portuguese side in this matchup. Historically, Benfica holds a negative record for Real Madrid, with Los Blancos having lost the 1962 European Cup final 5-3, getting eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 64-65 edition (5-1 for Portugal in the first leg and 2-1 for Madrid in the second leg), and getting defeated in Lisbon with a score of 4-2. In total, Benfica has won three of their four past encounters against Real Madrid.
José Mourinho Returns to Face His Former Club
For Benfica manager José Mourinho, the two-legged tie offers a sentimental and competitive return. He now stands in their path as they chase European glory.
I like going to Madrid and I like going to Milan. Meeting friends is always nice. Real Madrid and Inter are teams capable of winning the Champions League and we, at best, can do something extraordinary, said José Mourinho, as reported by marca.com.
Mourinho also acknowledged his opponent’s pedigree despite the stumble in Lisbon, reaffirming Real Madrid’s status among the tournament favorites. Real Madrid and Inter are among the main candidates. We are not one of them, but we are still competing, Mourinho stated.
Road Map to the Round of 16 and Playoff Pairings
The winner of the playoff showdown between Benfica and Real Madrid will advance to the round of 16. Meanwhile, other blockbuster fixtures have been set across the continent, including a French derby where defending champions PSG will face Monaco, and Bodo Glimt taking on Inter Milan after the Norwegian side previously defeated Manchester City 3-1.
The complete playoff pairings include:
- Bodo Glimt vs. Inter Milan
- Monaco vs. PSG
- Qarabag vs. Newcastle
- Galatasaray vs. Juventus
- Club Brugge vs. Atlético Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
- Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- Benfica vs. Real Madrid
All matches will be played in two legs, except for the single-match final on 30 May at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. The first legs of the playoff round are scheduled for 17 and 18 February 2026, with the second legs taking place on 24 and 25 February 2026. Eight playoff winners will ultimately complete the 16 teams qualified for the round of 16, with the knockout draw to be held on 27 February.
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