The Champions League 2025/26 returns this Tuesday (17th), with the playoffs kicking off!
And right off the bat, we have a Benfica vs. Real Madrid match, a clash that stirred up the league phase, even featuring a goalkeeper’s goal!
Determined by draw, these matchups pit clubs that did not secure direct qualification against each other, with teams ranked between 9th and 24th in the league phase, including heavyweights like Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund.
The winners of these duels advance to the round of 16, scheduled for the weeks of March 10 and 17.
So, folks? Which teams do you think will advance to the round of 16?
Leave your opinion in the comments!
First Leg Matches
February 17
Second Leg Matches
February 24
Real Madrid finished the league phase in 10th position, with a record of five wins and three losses.
And fate decided that the opponent would be Benfica, who ended up in 23rd place after securing three wins, in yet another encounter between the teams.
After conceding a goal from goalkeeper Trubin, which qualified the Portuguese for the playoffs, the Spanish club has the advantage of deciding at home.
This French duel pits the 12th place (PSG) against the 21st (Monaco).
In the initial phase, Paris Saint-Germain secured four wins and two losses, while Monaco recorded three wins and four losses.
Juventus finished the first phase in 14th place (four wins and three losses), while Galatasaray was in 19th position (three wins and five losses).
The Italian team will play the second match in Turin, deciding the tie at home after the initial game in Turkey.
📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA – AFP or licensors
