Holders PSG and Real Madrid must navigate the Champions League play-offs after missing direct last-16 qualification, with the draw set for Friday.
CHAMPIONS League holders Paris Saint-Germain and record winners Real Madrid face an extra hurdle to reach this season’s last 16.
Both European giants missed out on direct qualification after the conclusion of the expanded league phase on Wednesday.
The draw for the two-legged knockout play-offs will be held on Friday from 1100 GMT.
READ MORE: PSG and Newcastle face Champions League play-offs after draw
Drama on the final matchday saw Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 with a 98th-minute goalkeeper goal, snatching the final play-off spot.
The competition’s expansion to 36 teams means 144 matches were needed to eliminate just 12 clubs from the initial phase.
The top eight teams advanced directly to the last 16, with the next 16 entering the play-offs.
Most of the top 24 places were filled by clubs from Europe’s big five leagues, with Portuguese side Sporting a notable exception.
Several major names were eliminated entirely, including Napoli, Marseille, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The play-offs will be played over two legs in February, with the eight winners completing the last-16 lineup.
Remarkable achievements saw Qarabag of Azerbaijan and Norway’s Bodo/Glimt reach the play-offs.
Bodo/Glimt, champions from north of the Arctic Circle, beat Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their final two games to qualify.
“We should be extremely proud,” said their coach Kjetil Knutsen.
Bodo/Glimt could now face Real Madrid or last season’s runners-up Inter Milan in the play-offs.
Other potential ties include PSG facing domestic rivals Monaco and an all-German clash between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.
PSG coach Luis Enrique remained confident despite the extra round.
“We will have to take the long route, but I don’t think anyone else can be considered favourites more than us,” he said.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe admitted his side deserved their fate after the loss to Benfica.
“We deserve to be in this situation today,” said Mbappe.
“Now we have to play two more play-off games. It hurts to have to play those, we wanted to have the time in February to work on our game.”
Real Madrid navigated the play-offs last season before eventually losing in the quarter-finals.
Should they advance this time, they could face Manchester City or Sporting in the last 16.
PSG already know they would face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16 if they progress.
Arsenal, as league phase winners, will face one of Dortmund, Leverkusen, Atalanta or Olympiacos in the next round. – AFP
