The Champions League knockout phase is set to ignite. Friday’s play-off draw for the 2025–26 season matched teams ranked 9th to 24th from the league phase into eight two-legged ties, handing us heavyweight meetings and long-haul journeys that will test squads and managers alike.

The twist everyone will talk about? Newcastle United drew Qarabag and face a 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan for the first leg on February 17 or 18, before hosting the return a week later. Half a continent away, Paris Saint-Germain were paired with Ligue 1 rivals Monaco, while Real Madrid were handed a rematch with Benfica.

PSG vs Monaco and Real Madrid vs Benfica headline the card

Domestic familiarity adds spice to Europe when PSG meet Monaco. These clubs know each other well, but in February the margins get even smaller. No away-goal rule, two legs, and the second leg in Paris because seeded teams host the return: that’s a pressure cooker for both sides.

Real Madrid draw Benfica again, a tie that brings instant storylines. As one summary framed it, “Real Madrid get José Mourinho’s Benfica again, PSG vs. Monaco.” Madrid won’t need reminding that Benfica beat them 4–2 in the league phase. They now get two legs to set that record straight.

“Madrid-Benfica déjà vu — did that 4-2 lesson change anything?”

Full Champions League play-off draw

• Benfica vs Real Madrid
• Bodo/Glimt vs Inter
• Monaco vs PSG
• Qarabag vs Newcastle United
• Galatasaray vs Juventus
• Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
• Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
• Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

Each tie will be played over two legs, with the seeded teams (those who finished 9th–16th in the league phase) at home in the second legs on February 24–25. First legs are February 17–18.

Format 101: How this phase works in 2025–26

The new Champions League format keeps the stakes simple. The top eight from the league phase go straight into the round of 16. This season, that group is stacked: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City.

The next 16 teams (9th–24th) enter this play-off round. Seeded teams (9th–16th) face unseeded teams (17th–24th), with the seeded club hosting the second leg. There is no country protection, and teams can be paired with sides they already faced in the league phase. The winners of these eight ties advance to the round of 16 as unseeded clubs, and they drop into pre-assigned sections of the bracket to meet the top eight.

In short: finish top eight and you get a week to watch, rest, and plan; finish in the play-off slots and you must survive a two-leg test before seeing the last 16.

“The new format rewards the elite — but can the chasing pack handle two more high-wire nights?”

Road miles, winter weather, and why the schedule matters

Travel is a factor now. Newcastle’s tie with Qarabag means long flights and tight turnarounds in mid-February. That’s a test for Eddie Howe’s squad management. As one line captured it, “Eddie Howe’s men will play Qarabag for a place in the round of 16.” They also played PSG to a 1–1 draw in the league phase, a reminder that this Newcastle team can handle big European nights.

Inter’s trip to Bodo/Glimt could bring cold conditions and a tricky surface. Juventus head to Istanbul to face Galatasaray, where the atmosphere is famously intense. Atletico Madrid visit Club Brugge, who have recent form for upsetting bigger budgets. Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta both look tight, with styles that can swing a tie with one goal or one mistake.

“PSG vs Monaco in February feels like a coin flip — form beats badges.”

Reunions and riddles: what the ties tell us

Real Madrid vs Benfica is a classic reunion, with Los Blancos given a chance to react to that 4–2 league-phase defeat. In two legs, pedigree matters, but Benfica have already shown they can hurt Madrid.

PSG vs Monaco adds a domestic edge to Europe. The pressure sits on PSG as the seeded side with the second leg at home, but Monaco have enough pace and craft to make the Parc des Princes a nervous place if the first leg goes their way.

Dortmund vs Atalanta could be the most balanced footballing tie. Dortmund’s front line can score in bursts, while Atalanta’s structure can control games. One spell of 15 minutes might decide it.

Inter, Juventus, and Atletico will back themselves, but all three have to navigate tough first legs away. The margins will be thin. A draw on the road can be gold in this format.

Dates to circle and what comes next

Put these in your calendar:

• First legs: February 17–18, 2026
• Second legs: February 24–25, 2026 (seeded clubs host)

Once those eight winners are set, they’ll join the top eight as unseeded teams in the round of 16 draw. There is no country protection, and repeat matchups from the league phase are possible. In other words, the drama won’t stop with the play-offs — it will likely escalate.

As one summary neatly put it, “Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and more have discovered their respective Champions League playoff round opponents.” The stage is set; now the games must match the buzz.

Expect storylines to flip quickly. A tight first leg can turn into a shootout in the second. One red card can change a bracket. And for one Premier League side in particular, a 5,000-mile journey is just the start of a very long February.

Bottom line: The Champions League play-off draw has delivered marquee clashes, demanding travel, and zero breathing room. Survive this week, and the giants who rested will be waiting in the round of 16.