Champions League Play-Off Draw: Mourinho Will Return To Bernabeu For Actual Madrid Rematch

[ad_1] Actual Madrid faces an instantaneous rematch with Benfica after the groups have been drawn collectively within the Champions League playoffs on Friday.

Benfica beat Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday to disclaim the 15-time European champion direct qualification to the spherical of 16 and pressure it into the uncertainty of the playoffs.

Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain should additionally take that route and faces an all-French showdown with Monaco. And this season's shock package deal, tiny Norwegian workforce Bodø/Glimt, will play final 12 months's overwhelmed finalist Inter Milan.

The winners of the two-legged playoffs will advance to the spherical of 16, the place Madrid might but face one other showdown with Manchester Metropolis.

Mourinho's Bernabeu return (Photograph by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

The draw means former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will return to the Bernabeu with Benfica after pulling off a surprising win within the closing spherical of the league section, which included a objective from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin within the eighth minute of added time.

Main 3-2 after the 90-minute mark, Benfica wanted one other objective to climb into the playoffs on objective distinction. It managed that in probably the most dramatic vogue when Ukranian keeper Trubin headed within the essential objective.

Defeat noticed Madrid — which had began the match in third place — drop out of the highest eight, which instantly advance to the spherical of 16.

Mourinho — a two-time Champions League winner — could have the prospect to inflict extra ache on his former membership, which let go of coach Xabi Alonso final month and has turned to Alvaro Arbeloa to attempt to salvage the season.

PSG, which gained the Champions League in such thrilling type final season, must take the good distance spherical in its protection of the trophy. It performs a Monaco workforce that's 9 locations and 21 factors under it within the French league.

PSG’s triumph final 12 months additionally noticed it advance by way of the playoffs.

Bodø/Glimt has been the story of this season’s competitors to this point after back-to-back upsets towards Manchester Metropolis and Atletico Madrid to succeed in the playoffs on its debut in European membership soccer's largest competitors. And it'll current a significant menace to Inter's hopes of progressing.

Champions League playoffs draw Benfica vs. Actual Madrid Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter Milan Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain Qarabag vs. Newcastle Galatasaray vs. Juventus Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen When will the playoffs happen? The primary legs will likely be performed over Feb. 17-18.

The second legs over Feb. 24-25.

Groups certified robotically to the spherical of 16 Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester Metropolis.

Europa League draw The Europa League closing this season is in Istanbul, however Nottingham Forest will take an early journey to the Turkish metropolis after being drawn towards Fenerbahce within the playoff spherical. Scottish champion Celtic performs Germany's Stuttgart, whereas Spanish membership Celta Vigo faces Greek workforce PAOK, and Lille of France takes on Crimson Star Belgrade of Serbia.