- Tough price for missing top eight spots
Football pairings can sometimes exhibit funny tricks as a number of European heavyweights are paying the price for failing to secure a top-eight finish in the league phase of this season’s Champions League competition
Here, Spanish giants, Real Madrid are again presented with an opportunity to reunite with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the knockout play-off round.
Painfully, the 15-time European Cup winners missed out on automatic qualification by a solitary point, with a 4-2 humiliating defeat in Lisbon against Benfica proving to be costly for them.
Former Blancos boss, Mourinho oversaw ‘the miracle of Da Luz’, with Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin heading home a 98th-minute effort that nudged his side through on goal difference by the narrowest of margins. Real will get an immediate opportunity for revenge.
Another heavyweight battling for a place in the last 16 is Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) which made history last season by capturing the most prestigious of European trophies for the first time.
Unfortunately, they have been short of their best this term, despite having Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele on board, and will have to defend their crown the hard way.
For their sloppy performance, the title holders must overcome domestic rivals, AS Monaco if they wish to reach the last-16 stage of this competition.
Similarly, there is no hiding place for three-time winners, Inter Milan as they take on Norwegian giant-killers Bodo/Glimt while another Serie A heavyweights, Juventus battle Turkish side, Galatasaray with Atletico Madrid fancying their chances against Belgian opponents, Club Brugge.
The two German sides involved at this stage of the competition, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, will be tackling Atalanta of Italy and Olympiacos of Greece respectively in what football pundits consider epic contests on parade.
On their part, Newcastle United are facing a tough test against Azerbaijan Premier League side, Qarabag FK. Newcastle are the only Premier League side not to finish in the top eight, as Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City all made their way into the last-16
So, still clinging to continental dreams, the Magpies have been saddled with making the long and tedious trip to test their might in Azerbaijan
The Full Pairings
• Benfica vs Real Madrid
• Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
• Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
• Qarabag vs Newcastle United
• Galatasaray vs Juventus
• Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
• Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
• Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
First legs of knockout play-off fixtures will take place on February 17 and 18, with return dates holding a week later on February 24 and 25.
