UEFA Champions League 2025–26 Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw Results Announced: Real Madrid To Face Benfica, PSG To Lock Horns With Monaco

The path to the 2026 Champions League final in Budapest has been mapped out following the knockout phase draw held at UEFA headquarters on Friday. While heavyweights such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City secured direct entry to the Round of 16, several elite clubs, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, must now navigate a two-legged play-off in February. The draw has created a high-stakes bracket where traditional powerhouses are positioned for potential quarter-final collisions. UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Points Table Updated

Direct Qualifiers and Play-off Pairings

Under the competition’s Swiss-style format, the top eight teams from the league phase received an automatic bye to the Round of 16. Arsenal finished at the summit with a perfect record, joined by fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur.

The teams finishing 9th to 24th were drawn into the Knockout Phase Play-offs. The standout ties include Real Madrid facing Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain taking on Monaco. Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan also face tricky assignments against Galatasaray and Bodø/Glimt, respectively.

UCL 2025-26 Knockout Phase Play-off Draw Results

The Road to the Round of 16

The winners of the February play-offs will advance to face the seeded top-eight teams in March. Due to the predetermined bracket system, teams already know their potential opponents.

For instance, the winner of the Real Madrid vs Benfica tie is slated to face either Sporting CP or Manchester City in the next round. Similarly, the survivor of the Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta clash will move on to challenge either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. This structure ensures that the top seeds retain a home-field advantage for the decisive second legs in the Round of 16.

Top 8: Direct Round of 16 Qualifiers

1. Arsenal (ENG)

2. Bayern Munich (GER)

3. Liverpool (ENG)

4. Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)

5. Barcelona (ESP)

6. Chelsea (ENG)

7. Sporting CP (POR)

8. Manchester City (ENG)

The knockout action begins on 17 February 2026, with the play-off first legs. The Round of 16 is scheduled for mid-March, followed by the quarter-finals and semi-finals in April and May. The season will culminate at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on 30 May 2026, where the successor to the European throne will be crowned.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2026 05:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).