Champions League Knockout Phase Play-Off Round Draw: Newcastle & Real Madrid Discover Opponents

The draw for the Champions League play-offs has now been made, setting up several mouthwatering ties ahead of the knockout phase of Europe’s premier competition. The top eight teams of the initial league phase - Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting and Manchester City - have all qualified automatically for the next round.

However, they are still waiting to discover their opponents for the knockout stages, with each club that finished between ninth and 24th now required to play an extra two-legged game. These fixtures will take place over the midweeks of February 17-18 and 24-25, following the conclusion of a pulsating eight-matchweek league phase.

Among the most intriguing teams in Friday’s draw was Jose Mourinho’s Benfica side, whose last-minute headed strike from their goalkeeper in a 4-2 win over Real Madrid saw them clinch the final automatic qualification spot, while the 15-time winners dropped into ninth and must also navigate the play-off round. Elsewhere, Newcastle United are the only English side not to receive a fast-track pass into the Round of 16, while last season’s finalists PSG and Inter Milan also face an extra fixture.

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Among the strongest ties is the all-Ligue 1 tie that sees PSG take on Monaco, the two former homes of Kylian Mbappe. Meanwhile, Galatasary vs Juventus should be an entertaining watch, as will the rematch between Benfica and Real Madrid, with the latter hoping to exact revenge over former manager Mourinho.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham's Possible Opponents in RO16

The five English sides to have already reached the last 16 of Europe's elite competition now have a better idea of who they will face next. Liverpool and Tottenham secured their progression on matchday eight, and they have the same set of possible opponents.

Arne Slot and Thomas Frank are both under serious pressure due to their Premier League struggles. However, they will fancy their chances against either Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Club Brugge or Galatasaray.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, meanwhile, cruised through as League Phase winners, winning all of their matches by a total goal difference of +19. Two Bundesliga giants are among the pack of teams the north Londoners could face. Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen will take on the Premier League side.

Credit: TNT Sports

There are four potential match-ups for Man City, who narrowly avoided the play-off places with a win in their final game. Real Madrid and Inter Milan are the toughest opponents Pep Guardiola could meet in the next round. Bodo/Glimt, who they were stunned by with a 3-1 defeat that forced them to reimburse supporters that made the gruelling trip to the Arctic circle in matchday seven, and Benfica are the others.

Newcastle, Monaco, Qarabag or reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are the teams Chelsea could face depending on the outcome of the play-off round.