The draw for the Champions League play-off spherical passed off at UEFA’s Swiss headquarters. Photograph: AFP
PARIS:
Actual Madrid had been handed a fast rematch with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica within the draw for the Champions League play-off spherical on Friday, whereas reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will face home rivals Monaco.
Benfica beat Actual 4-2 of their ultimate recreation of the league section on Wednesday, with a 98th-minute purpose by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin proving decisive in permitting the Portuguese aspect to grab the final play-off spot forward of Marseille, who had been eradicated altogether.
The defeat additionally nudged Madrid out of the highest eight locations within the league standings, which give direct entry to the final 16, forcing them into this further spherical.
Benfica staged a outstanding restoration to take a play-off place — they completed twenty fourth within the 36-team league section, the final qualifying spot — by successful three of their final 4 matches after dropping their opening 4 video games.
Mourinho, 63, returned to the Lisbon giants for a second spell as coach in September. He was in control of Actual from 2010 to 2013 and received one La Liga title and one Copa del Rey whereas additionally taking them to the Champions League semi-finals in every of his three campaigns.
The golf equipment performed one another within the 1962 European Cup ultimate, with Benfica successful 5-3 to say the final of their two titles up to now.
PSG slipped out of the highest eight after successful solely one among their final 5 outings within the league section and ending in eleventh place.
They’ll go to Monaco for the primary leg and shall be cautious of the principality aspect who beat them there in Ligue 1 in November.
Nevertheless, 2004 Champions League finalists Monaco have been in poor type, with only one win in six video games for the reason that flip of the 12 months.
They’re tenth in Ligue 1, 21 factors behind leaders PSG. Nevertheless, a 0-0 draw with Juventus on Wednesday allowed them to safe a play-off place in Europe.
Newcastle go to Azerbaijan
PSG additionally beat French opposition within the play-off spherical final season, hammering Brest 10-0 on combination earlier than occurring to carry the trophy for the primary time of their historical past.
Elsewhere, Newcastle United shall be robust favourites in opposition to shock packages Qarabag of Azerbaijan, with the primary leg to come back in Baku.
PSG and Newcastle know that in the event that they win, they are going to play both Barcelona or Chelsea within the final 16. Actual’s potential last-16 opponents are Manchester Metropolis or Sporting, which might imply one more journey to Lisbon within the latter case.
Bodo/Glimt, Norwegian champions in 4 of the final six years, had been additionally shock qualifiers for this stage and have been rewarded with a tie in opposition to final season’s runners-up Inter Milan.
Juventus will tackle Galatasaray, whereas Atletico Madrid face Membership Brugge. Borussia Dortmund play Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen had been drawn in opposition to Olympiacos.
The 2-legged play-off ties will happen in February, with the winners advancing to the final 16 in March.
Already by to that stage are the highest eight groups from the league section, together with 5 English Premier League sides in Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Metropolis, in addition to Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Sporting.
This season’s Champions League ultimate shall be performed in Budapest on Might 30.
