"Benfica's incredible win brought the 2025-26 Champions League to life, but the Play-Off Round promises more drama with heavyweight teams including Real, reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and last season's beaten finalists Inter Milan all facing tough ties to reach the Round of 16. So while the top eight League Phase finishers can sit back and plot their path to the final in Budapest's"
"These two teams finished two places apart in the League Phase, with Atalanta narrowly ahead of Dortmund in 15th position. Atalanta are dangerous, but inconsistent, with Raffaele Palladino's side blowing a top eight finish by losing their final two games against Athletic Club and Union St.Gilloise. With uncertainty over the future of versatile forward/winger Ademola Lookman -- the Nigeria midfielder is a January transfer target for Fenerbahce -- Atalanta could be without one of their key attacking players when this tie comes around."
Real Madrid faces Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the Play-Off Round after Benfica's stoppage-time 4-2 victory in Lisbon denied Real a top-eight League Phase finish. The Play-Off Round features heavyweight ties with reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and last season's finalists Inter Milan also at risk. Teams finishing ninth through 24th in the League Phase must win two-legged ties to reach the Round of 16, with first legs on Feb. 17-18 and second legs on Feb. 24-25. In the Silver Path, Atalanta narrowly finished above Dortmund but face squad uncertainty, notably around Ademola Lookman, ahead of their tie.
Read at ESPN.com
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