The stage is set for another thrilling round of UEFA Champions League action following the completion of the draw for the last 16 and knockout play-offs.
One of the standout fixtures of the draw will see Portuguese giants, Benfica, face Spanish heavyweights, Real Madrid, in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
the draw has reignited memories of the dramatic meeting between both sides on the final day of the league phase.
Benfica and Real Madrid clashed in Portugal in that decisive encounter, with Jose Mourinho’s men emerging 4-2 winners.
That result proved crucial, as it allowed Benfica to sneak into the knockout play-offs while denying Madrid an automatic qualification spot in the round of 16.
Clubs were paired based on their final positions at the end of the league phase to form seeded and unseeded groups.
Teams that finished between ninth and 16th were placed in the seeded bracket, while those that ended the phase between 17th and 24th were grouped as unseeded teams.
The format ensured that seeded teams would face unseeded opponents in the knockout play-off round.
UCL Full Knockout Play-off fixtures
The complete list of Champions League knockout play-off ties is as follows:
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Galatasaray vs Juventus
- Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
- Monaco vs PSG
- Qarabag vs Newcastle
- Benfica vs Real Madrid
- Bodo/Glimt vs Inter
the knockout play-off round will be played over two legs on February 17-18 and February 24-25.
Successful teams from the play-offs will advance to the round of 16, scheduled for March 10-11 and March 17-18.
With heavyweight clashes and intriguing matchups on the cards, European football fans are bracing for weeks of high drama as clubs battle for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
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