Newcastle drew with Qarabag in the Champions League knockout play-offs, while Benfica and Real Madrid will meet again after a dramatic end to the league stages on Wednesday.

This is the first time the Magpies have reached the knockout rounds in Europe and will travel 5,000 miles to and from Azerbaijan on February 17 or 18 for the first leg.

As seeded teams, they will play the second leg at St James’ Park on February 24 or 25.

Newcastle United have added two more games to an already crowded February, with play-offs ahead of Premier League games against Manchester City on February 21 and Everton at home on February 28.

Qarabag was beaten 6-0 by Liverpool in the final round of the league, but in the fourth round they drew 2-2 at home with Chelsea.

If Eddie Howe’s side make it to the last 16, they will face either Chelsea or Barcelona.

But perhaps a play-off draw will see Jose Mourinho face his former club Real Madrid again. Benfica host a La Liga side in the final stages of the week’s league fixtures and heading into the final seconds they needed a goal to secure their place in the play-offs.

They were already leading 3-2 against nine-man Real Madrid when goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin headed home the goal. The defeat leaves Alvaro Arbeloa’s side ninth in the table and two extra play-off games into the tournament.

Benfica have now won three of the club’s four previous European competitions, including the 1962 European Cup final, and this will be Mourinho’s chance to once again defeat his old club and 15-time European champions.

Champions League holders paris saint germain They also had to secure a play-off spot after Wednesday’s draw with Newcastle and will face an all-France match Monaco.

juventus has been objected to Galatasaraywhile fellow Italians Inter Milan Facing the Norwegian side Bodo/Glint, They defeated Manchester City in the penultimate stage of the league.

atletico madrid Can play club bruges, Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen Face Atlanta and olympiacos respectively.

The draw for the top 16 will be held after the play-offs end on February 27.

All Champions League knockout playoff draws

• Benfica vs Real Madrid
• Bodo/Glimt VS Inter Milan
• Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
• Qarabagh vs. Newcastle
• Galatasaray vs Juventus
• Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
• Dortmund vs Atalanta
• Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

Who will England face in the last 16?

arsenal – Dortmund, Atalanta, Olympiacos or Leverkusen

Manchester City – Benfica, Real Madrid, Bodo/Grinter or Inter Milan

chelsea – Qarabagh, NewcastleMonaco or Paris Saint-Germain

liverpool or tottenham hotspur – Galatasaray, Juventus, Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid

Newcastle – Chelsea or Barcelona

England on track to secure fifth Champions League spot

One of the benefits of English teams performing so strongly in Europe is that the Premier League is now almost certain to repeat last season’s feat of finishing in the top two of UEFA’s coefficient table to secure a fifth Champions League spot.

With five Premier League teams going straight into the last 16 of the Champions League and all nine of Europe’s Premier League teams still staying alive in their respective competitions, England sit comfortably ahead of Germany at the top of the table.

Newcastle United were the beneficiary of last season, finishing fifth in the Premier League and locking in a Champions League spot this season. Now, as English teams continue to perform strongly on the continent, another team could capitalize on the opportunity.

When will the 2025/26 Champions League knockout rounds take place?

Play-off draw: January 30, 2026
Knockout rounds: February 17-18 and 24-25, 2026
Top 16: March 10-11 and 17-18, 2026
Quarterfinals: April 7-8 and 14-15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6, 2026
Final: Saturday, May 30, 2026

Where will the 2026 Champions League final be held?

The 2025/26 Champions League final will be held on Saturday, May 30 at the Puskas Stadium in Budapest.