Champions League Playoff Draw: Bodo/Glimt to face Serie A Giants While Real Madrid Seeks Redemption

Football fans are gearing up for another exciting round of action in Europe following the conclusion of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League playoff draw. 16 teams will go head to head in knockout games with the prize of staying in contention for winning the UCL title.

Among the recently released fixtures, Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt will be facing Italian heavyweights Inter in the upcoming knockout phase. Bodo Glimt enters the knockout playoff games on the back of consecutive wins over perennial UCL heavyweights like Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Inter, on the other hand, comes into the contest having won 5 of their 8 games in the group stages against teams like Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and Union SG.

Another eye-catching game for the fans will be an opportunity for redemption for Spanish giants Real Madrid, who will have a date with destiny against Jose Mourinho's Benfica. There is added needle in the knockout playoffs following the dramatic ending to the matchweek 8 game between the two clubs.

An injury-time goal from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin earned the Portuguese side, who are former Champions League winners, three crucial points to sneak into the knockout playoff spots.

Champions League Playoff Draw Fixtures Revealed

The UCL playoff draw will also feature an all-French encounter between PSG and Monaco. As reigning champions, PSG have once again finished out of the Top 8 spots after falling to a 1-1 draw against Newcastle in matchday 8. Their opponents, Monaco, were also equally disappointing in the Champions League this season, having only managed to win two out of a possible eight games.

Two-time UCL winners Juventus will face perennial knockout round team Galatasaray to remain in the race for European silverware this season.

Too many draws in the group stages hampered the Italian heavyweights' progress to the Top 8 spots, while Super Lig giants finished 20th in the final standings.

Can Diego Simeone's Rojiblancos make it to another UCL Final?

Spanish side Atletico Madrid have a tricky knockout opponent in Belgian side Club Brugge, who are capable of springing a few surprise results of their own. Atleti, which finished 14th in the table after matchweek 8, were dragged down following consecutive disappointing results against Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt. Pressure will be high on Simeone and his men to regain some of their lost form and storm into the next round beyond Brugge.

Some other interesting fixtures that have emerged following the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff draw are listed below.