Benfica keeper’s 98th-minute header stuns Real Madrid

The UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoff draw is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11 AM GMT (6 AM ET) at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, following a dramatic final matchweek that saw Real Madrid stunned by Benfica and relegated to the playoff round.independent+2

The draw will pair 16 teams who finished 9th through 24th in the league phase standings, with seeded teams facing unseeded opponents over two legs in February. The first legs are set for February 17-18, with the return fixtures scheduled for February 24-25.uefa+1

Arsenal Perfect, Real Madrid Humbled

Arsenal ↘ 0.83% secured top spot in the league phase with an unblemished 8-0 record, becoming the first team to win all eight matches since the new format's introduction. Bayern Munich finished second with 21 points, followed by Liverpool ↗ 0.18%, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City ↘ 1.31%, who all advanced directly to the Round of 16.wikipedia+3

The final matchweek produced stunning drama in Lisbon, where Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin delivered a remarkable 98th-minute header to seal a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid, according to Reuters. The result dropped Los Blancos to ninth place and consigned them to the playoff round, while simultaneously securing Benfica's qualification in 24th place at Marseille's expense.reuters+1

Real Madrid finished with nine men after Raul Asencio and Rodrygo received red cards in the latter stages of the contest. Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Madrid, but it was not enough to prevent a disastrous outcome for the Spanish giants.sportsmole+1

How the Draw Works

Teams are paired based on their final league phase positions. Clubs finishing 9th and 10th (Real Madrid and Inter Milan) will face teams ranked 23rd or 24th (Bodø/Glimt or Benfica). Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle (11th-12th) will draw Monaco or Qarabag (21st-22nd), while Juventus or Atlético Madrid (13th-14th) meet Club Brugge or Galatasaray (19th-20th).espn+1

The seeded clubs, having finished higher in the standings, will host the second leg of their ties.nytimes+1

Path to Budapest

The eight playoff winners will join the top eight teams in the Round of 16, with that draw scheduled for February 27. The competition continues through the spring, culminating in the final at Budapest's Puskás Aréna on May 30.usatoday+1

The draw will be streamed live on UEFA.com and the official UEFA Champions League app.uefa+1