Reigning Champions PSG and Record-Breakers Real Madrid Prepare for Champions League Playoff Draw

The current title holders Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid with their impressive 15 victories are included in the lineup of major European teams that need to progress via the playoff stage for this years Champions League, following their failure to gain automatic entry to the round of 16.

The lottery for the elimination stage playoffs occurs on Friday starting at 1100 GMT, right after the group stage wrapped up on Wednesday with the completion of the eighth and concluding set of fixtures.

The final evening brought plenty of excitement, especially in Lisbon where Jose Mourinhos Benfica triumphed over his old team Real 4-2, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin netting in the 98th minute to enable the Portuguese powerhouse to grab the final playoff position and push their rivals outside the top eight.

The premier club tournament in Europe is now larger than before due to the growth last season to 36 participants in the main Champions League draw.

As a result 144 games must be played to remove only 12 sides, where the leading eight in the general rankings proceed directly to the round of 16 and the following 16 qualify for the playoffs.

Overall there are hardly any major upsets, as the first 17 positions are held by teams from the prominent big five European divisions of England with six, Spain with three, Italy with three, Germany with three and France featuring PSG, except for one outlier in the shape of Portuguese side Sporting.

A few prominent teams did not advance, including Italian title winners Napoli alongside three past champions Marseille, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax. Additionally Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt were knocked out.

The playoffs will be contested across two matches in February, allowing the eight victors to join the roster for the round of 16.

Bodo/Glimt, Qarabag Stand Out as Unexpected Successes

The standout accomplishments in qualifying for the playoffs go to Qarabag the Azerbaijani league leaders who progressed even after a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool in their closing match and particularly to Bodo/Glimt.

Norwegian title holders in four out of the past six seasons this team from above the Arctic Circle overcame Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their final two encounters to advance despite their home campaign ending late November.

We ought to feel immensely proud said their manager Kjetil Knutsen and now Bodo/Glimt anticipate an exciting clash against either Real or Inter Milan the runners-up from the previous campaign.

Another likely confrontation for Madrid could be a quick replay against Benfica while further possible pairings on Friday encompass PSG taking on fellow countrymen Monaco and Borussia Dortmund facing Bayer Leverkusen in a purely German league battle.

We must follow the extended path but I believe no one else qualifies as stronger contenders than us remarked PSG manager Luis Enrique regarding the additional knockout fixture, recalling that last year it did not prevent the French team from claiming the trophy.

We merit being in this position now conceded Real forward Kylian Mbappe following the defeat in Lisbon that dropped them into the playoffs.

Now we face two extra playoff encounters. It stings to need those, we hoped to use February to refine our play.

Real navigated the playoffs last season defeating Manchester City prior to their quarter-final exit against Arsenal.

On this occasion City represent one of their prospective last 16 rivals in March, together with Sporting if they progress through the playoffs.

In the meantime PSG are aware they will encounter either Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16 provided they advance that far the Paris club defeated Barcelona on their turf earlier this season but fell to Chelsea in the Club World Cup decider last July.

Arsenal who topped the group stage will meet one of Dortmund, Leverkusen, Atalanta or Olympiacos in the round of 16.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw teams

Seeded: Real Madrid (ESP), Inter Milan (ITA), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Newcastle United (ENG), Juventus (ITA), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Atalanta (ITA), Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

Unseeded: Borussia Dortmund (GER), Olympiacos (GRE), Club Brugge (BEL), Galatasaray (TUR), Monaco (FRA), Qarabag (AZE), Bodo/Glimt (NOR), Benfica (POR)