By Olukayode Olumuyiwa
The road to Budapest just got a lot more interesting. The Champions League play-off draw took place on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, and it has served up some incredible matches. With 16 teams fighting for the remaining eight spots in the round of 16, the drama is reaching a boiling point.
The Special One Returns to Madrid
The headline match is undoubtedly Real Madrid taking on Benfica. This is a massive story because Benfica is currently led by the legendary Jose Mourinho. It is a quick rematch of their recent league phase game where Benfica shocked the world with a 4-2 win. Mourinho mentioned after that game that it was an intensity he had never felt before, and now he has to take his team to the Bernabéu to do it all over again.
Full Play-Off Matchups
The teams that finished 9th through 16th will host the second leg of these ties, giving them a slight home-field advantage for the decider. Here is the full lineup:
- Real Madrid vs Benfica
- Inter Milan vs Bodo/Glimt
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco
- Newcastle United vs Qarabag
- Juventus vs Galatasaray
- Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge
- Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos
A Long Trip and a Local Derby
The draw has created some very different challenges for the clubs involved. Newcastle United fans are preparing for one of the longest trips in European football as they travel to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag. On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco will keep things close to home in a high-stakes all-French battle.
Fans and Experts Weigh In
Social media is already buzzing about the potential for major upsets. Many fans are pointing to the Atalanta and Dortmund game as a guaranteed thriller, while others are wondering if Real Madrid is in trouble given Benfica’s recent form. Experts at ESPN and various football analysts have noted that the pressure is firmly on big names like Inter Milan and PSG to avoid an early exit.
What Happens Next?
The winners of these two-legged ties will move on to join the eight teams that already qualified automatically, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
The first legs will be played on February 17 and 18, with the return matches following a week later on February 24 and 25. Once the smoke clears, the round of 16 draw on February 27 will set the final bracket for the journey to the final in Hungary.
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