He only Champions League draw that every team that aspires for more wanted avoid. This Friday, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid learned their fate in the playoffsthe intermediate round between the league stage and the round of 16 … at the end.
With Barcelona, which did do its homework, directly into the round of 16, and with Athletic and Villarreal already eliminated after a disappointing track record, the two Madrid teams have been destined for the playoffs, in the case of Real Madrid for the second consecutive edition.
A raffle that has included 16 clubsthose that finished the league phase in positions from 9 to 24. To carry out the same, the teams have been grouped two by two, with four pairs (eight teams) of seeds, an identical number of non-seeds.
-
Seeds: Real Madrid, Inter, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Atlético de Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
-
Unseeded: Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabağ, Bodø/Glimt and Benfica.
This is Real Madrid’s rival in the Champions League playoffs
Real Madrid, ninth at the end of the Champions League phase, knew that it would meet 23rd (Bodø/Glimt) or 24th (Benfica) in the playoffs. Despite Benfica being their opponent on the last day, it was a possibility as there was no no condition that prevents crosses between teams from the same country or between those that have already faced each other in the first phase of the competition.
The draw has brought about the confrontation between Real Madrid and the Benficawho will meet again with José Mourinho and his team, just a few weeks after their defeat against the Portuguese club on the last day of the Champions League. The tie for Álvaro Arbeloa’s team It will be resolved on Tuesday, February 24 or Wednesday, February 25 in Madrid.. The departure, a week before.
This is Atlético de Madrid’s rival in the Champions League playoffs
An old acquaintance from the league phase was also reserved for Atlético de Madrid: Galatasaray (20th). The red and whites, fourteenth, were also seeded. In addition to the current Turkish champion, the Club Bruges (19th) was the other possibility for Atleti, who will finally face the Belgians, third in their national league, in their first appearance in these Champions League playoffs.
The format was inaugurated in the 2024-25 season and Simeone’s men went directly to the round of 16 by finishing in fifth position, something they have not been able to emulate this campaign. Like Madrid, Atleti will also play the return leg at home. A privilege which, by the way, If they go to the round of 16, both will loseas the first eight of the league phase are the seeds for that draw.
Champions League Playoff Pairings
-
Benfica – Real Madrid
-
Bodø/Glimt – Inter
-
Karabakh – Newcastle
-
Monaco – PSG
-
Galatasaray – Juventus
-
Club Brugge – Atlético de Madrid
-
Olympiacos – Bayer Leverkusen
-
Borussia Dortmund – Atalanta
This is how the Champions League playoff pairings remain after the draw
The eight playoff winners will complete the round of 16, which already has eight teams qualified.
-
Arsenal
-
Bayern
-
Liverpool
-
Tottenham
-
Barcelona
-
Chelsea
-
Sporting Portugal
-
Manchester City
-
Playoffs: February 17/18 (first leg); February 24/25 (return).
-
Draw for round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals: February 27.
-
Eighth: March 10/11 (first leg); March 17/18 (return).
-
Quarters: April 7/8 (one way); April 14/15 (return).
-
Semifinals: April 28/29 (first leg); May 5/6 (return).
-
Final: May 30, 2026 (Budapest).
Where the Champions League playoff games are televised
Telefónica has the rights to the Champions League until 2031. The matches are broadcast on the platforms Movistar Plus+ and Orange TV (in the latter after reaching an agreement with Telefónica) exclusively, with the exception of the final, which is broadcast on open television on La 1.
All meetings are available through the channels of M+ Champions League. Furthermore, during each matchday, Movistar Plus+ broadcasts a match on its Movistar Plus+ channel (dial 7), available to customers who contract the OTT for 9.99 euros/month even if they do not have the Football package contracted.
