Real Madrid faces an immediate rematch with Benfica after the teams were drawn together in the Champions League playoffs on Friday. Benfica beat Madrid 4-2 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 champion Paris Saint-Germain must also take
Here's the state of play after the conclusion of the first stage of the Champions League: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City. Monaco or Qarabag vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle (for the right to play Barcelona or Chelsea) Club Brugge or Galatasaray vs. Juventus or Atletico Madrid (for
Real Madrid was stunningly dumped into the knockout playoffs of the Champions League by its former coach José Mourinho - whose Benfica team advanced on a last-gasp goal by its goalkeeper - on Wednesday and will be joined there by title holder Paris Saint-Germain. Madrid started play third in the 36-team standings and despite two goals by Kylian Mbappé