Real Madridfaces an immediate rematch with Benfica after the teams were drawn together in theChampions Leagueplayoffs on Friday.
Benfica beatMadrid4-2 on Wednesday to deny the 15-time European champion direct qualification to the round of 16 and force it into the uncertainty of the playoffs.
Defending championParis Saint-Germainmust also take that route and faces an all-French showdown withMonaco. And this season's surprise package, tiny Norwegian team Bod/Glimt, will play last year's beaten finalistInter Milan.
The winners of the two-legged playoffs will advance to the round of 16, where Madrid may yet face another showdown withManchester City.
The draw means former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will return to the Bernabeu with Benfica after pulling off a stunning win in the final round of the league phase, which included a goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in the eighth minute of added time.
Leading 3-2 after the 90-minute mark, Benfica needed another goal to climb into the playoffs on goal difference. It managed that in the most dramatic fashion when Ukranian keeper Trubin headed in the crucial goal.
Defeat saw Madrid which had started the match in third place drop out of the top eight, which directly advance to the round of 16.
Mourinho a two-time Champions League winner will have the chance to inflict more pain on his former club, which let go of coach Xabi Alonso last month and has turned to Alvaro Arbeloa to try to salvage the season.
PSG, which won the Champions League in such thrilling style last season, will have to take the long way round in its defense of the trophy. It plays a Monaco team that is nine places and 21 points below it in the French league.
PSGs triumph last year also saw it advance via the playoffs.
Bod/Glimt has been the story of this seasons competition so far after back-to-back upsets against Manchester City andAtletico Madridto reach the playoffs on its debut in European club soccer's biggest competition. And it will present a major threat to Inter's hopes of progressing.
Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Bod/Glimt vs. Inter Milan
Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag vs. Newcastle
Galatasaray vs. Juventus
Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
The first legs will be played over Feb. 17-18.
The second legs over Feb. 24-25.
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City.
The Europa League final this season is in Istanbul, but Nottingham Forest will take an early journey to the Turkish city after being drawn against Fenerbahce in the playoff round. Scottish champion Celtic plays Germany's Stuttgart, while Spanish club Celta Vigo faces Greek team PAOK, and Lille of France takes on Red Star Belgrade of Serbia.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Originally published on France24
