Champions League Play-Off Draw: Mourinho Returns to Bernabeu for Real Madrid Rematch
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 too 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 that route and faces an all-French showdown with Monaco. and this season’s surprise package, tiny Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt, will play last year’s beaten finalist Inter Milan.
The winners of the two-legged playoffs will advance to the round of 16, where Madrid may yet face another showdown with Manchester City.
Mourinho’s Bernabeu return
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(Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images)
The draw means former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will return to the Bernabeu with Benfica after pulling off a stunning win in the final round of the league phase, which included a goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in the eighth minute of added time.
Leading 3-2 after the 90-minute mark,Benfica needed another goal to climb into the playoffs on goal difference. It managed that in the most dramatic fashion when…
UEFA europa League Matches Scheduled for November 23, 2023
On November 23, 2023, the UEFA Europa League featured matches between Celta Vigo of Spain and PAOK of Greece, and Lille of France against Red Star Belgrade of Serbia.
source: Fox Sports.
Celta Vigo vs. PAOK
Celta Vigo, a Spanish football club based in Vigo, Galicia, faced off against PAOK, a Greek professional football club based in Thessaloniki.
Detail: The match was part of the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League group stage. Celta Vigo competes in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football, while PAOK competes in the Super League Greece.
Example: The match ended in a 1-1 draw. UEFA official match report.
Lille vs. Red Star Belgrade
Lille, a French professional football club based in Lille, played against Red Star Belgrade, a Serbian professional football club based in Belgrade.
Detail: This match also formed part of the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League group stage. Lille plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football, and Red Star Belgrade competes in the Serbian SuperLiga.
Example: Red Star Belgrade won the match 2-1. UEFA official match report.
UEFA Europa League – Latest Status (as of January 31, 2026)
As of January 31, 2026, the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League season has concluded. UEFA’s official website provides extensive results and standings for all seasons. The current season (2025-26) is underway.
Detail: The 2023-24 Europa League final was contested between atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, with Bayer Leverkusen winning 3-0. UEFA official report on the final.
Example: Bayer Leverkusen’s victory secured their first Europa League title and qualified them for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League group stage.