Champions League Playoffs: Real Madrid vs Benfica & Key Matchups

This is how the Champions League crosses were defined (REUTERS/Pierre Albouy)

The League Phase of the UEFA Champions League has reached its end this Wednesday in a dramatic definition with 18 simultaneous games, which included the goal of goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin so that Benfica be the last team to sneak into the playoff. This instance has very powerful teams that will have to put their ticket to the round of 16 at stake, while the top eight in the table avoided this previous round and have already earned their ticket among the 16 best in Europe.

The draw to determine the pairings was held this Friday with the teams that finished between 9th and 24th place. From 9th to 16th they were seeded in the bolillero and will face the remaining eight. There were four pairs of four rivals each:

9° y 10° vs. 23° y 24°
11° y 12° vs. 21° y 22°
13° y 14° vs. 19° y 20°
15° y 16° vs. 17° y 18°

These are the duels that will take place in the playoffs-credit @ChampionsLeague/X

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Bodo Glimt vs Inter

Monaco vs PSG

Qarabag vs Newcastle

Galatasaray vs Juventus

Bruges vs Atlético de Madrid

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

Olympiakos vs Bayern Leverkusen

The gala, which took place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, determined how the balls were distributed. The first matchup put Borussia Dortmund of Germany face to face with Atalanta, so Olympiakos of Greece will face off against Bayern Leverkusen. The winners of these keys will face Arsenal of England or Bayer Munich of Germany in the round of 16 (the draw will be on February 27).

Then the match between Galatasaray of Türkiye against Juventus of Italy and Bruges of Belgium against Atlético de Madrid was defined. Liverpool and Tottenham await the results of these clashes to know their rivals

Another electrifying clash will be between two French greats, as the current champion PSG will clash against Monaco, while Newcastle will go against Qarabag. From these pairings the rivals of Barcelona and Chelsea will emerge.

At the end there was another highlight, because José Mourinho’s Benfica will once again face Real Madrid. Thus, Bodo Glimt will play against Inter of Italy. Those who survive will play in the next phase against Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City.

From now on, all instances will be played in a double match, except for the final on May 30, which will be a single match in Budapest, Hungary. The outward crossings of the playoff will take place from February 17 to 18, while the rematches will occur from February 24 to 25. The eight winners will complete the 16 classified for the round of 16 and the keys will be drawn on Friday, February 27.