{"id":40276,"date":"2026-01-31T00:15:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T05:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T00:15:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T05:15:03","slug":"champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"Champions League Play-Offs: Mourinho Makes Comeback to Bernab\u00e9u for Epic Showdown with Real Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/#Mourinho_Returns_to_Bernabeu\" >Mourinho Returns to Bernab\u00e9u<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/#Champions_League_Playoff_Draw\" >Champions League Playoff Draw<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/#Playoff_Schedule\" >Playoff Schedule<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/#Teams_Automatically_Qualifying_for_Round_of_16\" >Teams Automatically Qualifying for Round of 16<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/01\/31\/champions-league-play-offs-mourinho-makes-comeback-to-bernabeu-for-epic-showdown-with-real-madrid\/#Europa_League_Draw\" >Europa League Draw<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Real Madrid will have an immediate chance to avenge their recent loss to Benfica as the two clubs have been drawn against each other in the Champions League play-offs. Benfica&#8217;s 4-2 victory over Madrid on Wednesday prevented the 15-time European champions from securing a direct spot in the round of 16, creating some uncertainty around the play-offs.<\/p>\n<p>Defending titleholders Paris Saint-Germain will also have a tough challenge ahead, facing Monaco in an all-French clash. In another interesting matchup, Bod\u00f8\/Glimt, a small Norwegian team that has surprised many this season, will take on last year\u2019s finalists, Inter Milan. The winners of these two-legged matches will progress to the round of 16, where Madrid might encounter Manchester City again.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mourinho_Returns_to_Bernabeu\"><\/span>Mourinho Returns to Bernab\u00e9u<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This draw marks a reunion for former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who will lead Benfica back to the Bernab\u00e9u after a thrilling victory in their final league match, featuring a dramatic late equalizer from goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin in stoppage time. Benfica was ahead 3-2 and required another point to qualify, and Trubin&#8217;s header capped off a remarkable game.<\/p>\n<p>As Madrid, who had started the match in the third position, slipped out of the top eight, Mourinho will be looking to inflict more hardship upon his former club, which recently parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso. Under the guidance of their new manager \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa, they are eager to improve their season.<\/p>\n<p>PSG, who won the Champions League last year in an electrifying fashion, faces Monaco while currently sitting 21 points above their competitors in the French league. PSG secured their playoff spot following their success last season.<\/p>\n<p>Bod\u00f8\/Glimt have become the talk of the tournament after shocking wins over Manchester City and Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, making their first appearance in European club football&#8217;s premier event. They could pose a significant threat to Inter&#8217;s progression.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Champions_League_Playoff_Draw\"><\/span>Champions League Playoff Draw<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Benfica vs Real Madrid<\/li>\n<li>Bod\u00f8\/Glimt vs Inter Milan<\/li>\n<li>Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain<\/li>\n<li>Qarabag vs Newcastle<\/li>\n<li>Galatasaray vs Juventus<\/li>\n<li>Brugge vs Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/li>\n<li>Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta<\/li>\n<li>Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Playoff_Schedule\"><\/span>Playoff Schedule<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The first leg of the playoffs is scheduled for February 17th to 18th, with the second leg taking place on February 24th to 25th.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Teams_Automatically_Qualifying_for_Round_of_16\"><\/span>Teams Automatically Qualifying for Round of 16<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, and Manchester City.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Europa_League_Draw\"><\/span>Europa League Draw<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This season&#8217;s Europa League final will be held in Istanbul, with Nottingham Forest making an early trip after being drawn against Fenerbahce. Scottish champions Celtic will compete against Germany&#8217;s Stuttgart, while Spain&#8217;s Celta Vigo will face Greece&#8217;s PAOK, and France&#8217;s Lille will take on Serbia&#8217;s Red Star Belgrade.<\/p>\n<p><em>This news is significant for soccer fans as it sets the stage for intense clashes in the Champions League, offering high-stakes drama and the potential for historic upsets. With heavyweights like Real Madrid and PSG facing formidable opponents, the excitement surrounding these matches could redefine the future of the tournament.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Real Madrid will have an immediate chance to avenge their recent loss to Benfica as the two clubs have been drawn against each other in the Champions League play-offs. Benfica&#8217;s 4-2 victory over Madrid on Wednesday prevented the 15-time European champions from securing a direct spot in the round of 16, creating some uncertainty around [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[8561,276,1005,1096,40,97,564,976,46,6992,452,1098,45],"class_list":{"0":"post-40276","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-bernabeu","9":"tag-champions","10":"tag-comeback","11":"tag-epic","12":"tag-football","13":"tag-league","14":"tag-madrid","15":"tag-mourinho","16":"tag-news","17":"tag-playoffs","18":"tag-real","19":"tag-showdown","20":"tag-soccer"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40276\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}