The Champions League play-off draw is set for 18h today, 30/1. Real Madrid, after a 2-4 defeat at Benfica in their final group stage match, dropped from third to ninth place, forcing them into a play-off for a wildcard spot in the round of 16. This means a potential reunion with Benfica and former coach Jose Mourinho is on the cards.
According to tournament regulations, the two teams ranked ninth (Real) and tenth (Inter) in the group stage will be drawn against the two teams ranked 23rd (Bodo/Glimt) and 24th (Benfica). This setup gives Real a 50% chance of battling Benfica and coach Jose Mourinho once more.
Mourinho, who managed Real from 2010-2013, securing titles like La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, recently inflicted a bitter defeat on his former club. The 63-year-old coach's victory not only saw Real lose by two goals but also cost them direct qualification for the round of 16.
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Coach Mourinho (center) celebrates Benfica's 4-2 victory over Real in the final Champions League group stage match on the evening of 28/1. Photo: AP |
Should Real face Bodo/Glimt, their task will still be challenging. Bodo/Glimt demonstrated strong form in their last two group stage matches, defeating Man City 3-1 and Atletico 2-1. Real previously lost to Man City 1-2 in the group stage and Atletico 2-5 in La Liga.
Given their higher group stage ranking, Real will be seeded and hold the advantage of playing the second leg at home. The first leg of the play-offs is scheduled for 17/2 or 18/2, with the return leg on 24/2 or 25/2. The play-off draw will be held at 18h today, 30/1.
If Real advances past the play-off round, they will then face either Man City or Sporting in the round of 16. Inter's potential opponents in both the play-off and round of 16 are similar to Real's.
Other play-off matchups include: the two teams ranked 11th (PSG) and 12th (Newcastle) will be drawn against the 21st (Monaco) and 22nd (Qarabag) ranked teams. The advancing teams from these pairings will then meet Barca and Chelsea.
Additionally, the two teams ranked 13th (Juventus) and 14th (Altetico) will face the 19th (Club Brugge) and 22nd (Galatasaray) ranked teams. The winners will proceed to play Liverpool and Tottenham.
Finally, the two teams ranked 15th (Atalanta) and 16th (Leverkusen) will be drawn against the 17th (Dortmund) and 18th (Olympiacos) ranked teams. The successful teams from these ties will advance to play Arsenal and Bayern.
The Champions League group stage concluded with eight top teams directly qualifying for the round of 16: Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barca, Chelsea, Sporting, and Man City. The 16 teams ranked from ninth to 24th must compete in these play-off matches. Following the play-off round, UEFA will conduct another draw on 27/2 to determine the round of 16 pairings and subsequent knockout stages.
Thanh Quy
