The focus of the Champions League playoff qualifier is on the renewed clash between Spanish Real Madrid and Portuguese Benfica on Tuesday (12:00 UAE time) in Lisbon, while current champions French Paris Saint-Germain face a tough encounter with their compatriots Monaco at the same time. After eight matches in the unified group stage, the top eight teams advanced directly to the Round of 16, while the teams that finished 9th and 24th will face each other home and away for a chance to join them. By chance, the draw pitted Real against his former coach, Portuguese José Mourinho, after losing 2-4 to him in a 'crazy' summit in Lisbon that cost them direct qualification and gave Benfica the last playoff spot on goal difference, thanks to their Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who scored the fourth goal in stoppage time. Five English clubs secured direct qualification: Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City. The number was completed by German Bayern Munich, Spanish Barcelona, and Portuguese Sporting. The Real Madrid vs. Benfica match has a historical flavor, as the latter denied the 'Royal Club' the title by beating them 5-3 in the 1962 final, when winner star Eusébio scored a brace and loser Hungarian Ferenc Puskás scored a hat-trick. However, Benfica's record stopped at two titles in the 1960s, while Real Madrid won their record 15th title in 2024, far ahead of nearest rivals Milan (7), and are playing in the knockout stages for the 29th consecutive time. Mourinho's presence, a two-time Champions League winner as a coach, on the Benfica bench adds extra spice, as he coached Real from 2010 to 2013, winning only the local league and cup. On the opposite bench will sit his former player Álvaro Arbeloa, who came in mid-January, replacing sacked Xabi Alonso. The winner of this tie will face Manchester City or Portuguese Sporting. In contrast, Real's French striker Kylian Mbappé, with 13 goals in seven Champions League matches this season and leading the scorers' chart by a wide margin from England's Harry Kane (Bayern, 8), returns to the lineup. 'Things will be different because it's a two-legged tie, but we know they will look for an advantage at their home, and we need to be challenged defensively and offensively to return to the Bernabéu with a good result,' said Arbeloa. 'Mbappé has been feeling some discomfort and making a big effort to play, so we didn't want to take the risk before Tuesday's match.' Real's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtoas admitted: 'Playing in this playoff wasn't what we wanted, but it's what we have to do, and we are facing a great team that hurt us at their home.' The giant goalkeeper continued: 'We need to improve, learn from that defeat, and keep the same spirit we played with against Real Sociedad to get a good result.' Arbeloa clarified that Mbappé's absence was precautionary due to a slight physical discomfort, and the club preferred not to take risks: 'Mbappé is in very good shape.'
