Champions League Playoff Draw: Mourinho Welcomes Real Madrid for a “Revenge” Match

Written by Han Bing 36 hours ago, Mourinho’s Benfica triumphed over his former club Real Madrid 4-2 in Lisbon, earning the final Champions League playoff ticket. The January 30th noon draw set up a tense reunion between Mourinho and Real Madrid, offering the Galaxy’s squad a quick opportunity for revenge after such a shameful loss. Undoubtedly, due to Mourinho, Real Madrid, and especially goalkeeper Trubin’s stoppage-time goal, this matchup became the most anticipated focus of the Champions League playoff draw.

Since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, this is Mourinho’s third time facing the Galaxy team as a coach. He has already led Manchester United and Benfica to two consecutive victories, establishing a strong psychological advantage. However, this time is different—after 13 years, the “Special One” returns to the Bernabéu stadium where he made history. In the summer of 2010, he guided Inter Milan to a treble victory in the Champions League final, and afterwards, standing hands on hips surveying the grand Bernabéu, he felt a surge of pride.

Yet, the confident spirit of that time sharply contrasts with his recent decline. Before this “unexpected” victory escape against Real Madrid, Portuguese media were still debating when Mourinho would be dismissed.

Now, because of this legendary comeback to qualify in the Champions League and the upcoming two-legged playoff against Real Madrid, Mourinho is once again in the spotlight. The last time Real Madrid missed the Champions League round of 16 was back in the 1962/63 season, when they drew 3-3 in the first leg against Anderlecht but lost 0-1 in the second. Since the introduction of group and league stages in 1992/93, Real Madrid has always reached the round of 16. Last season, they also fell to the playoffs and faced a strong Manchester City, but Ancelotti seized the chance to eliminate the Premier League champions and advance to the last 16.

Compared to the experienced Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s interim coach Aveloya clearly appears too inexperienced. Two days ago in Lisbon, he seemed more like an overwhelmed “intern” in front of Mourinho. Mourinho controlled the match tempo with his trademark high-intensity rhythm and rapid counterattacks. If Benfica players had not wasted chances and Courtois had not performed heroically, there would have been no need to wait until the 98th minute for goalkeeper Trubin’s miraculous header to secure qualification.

Marca believes Mourinho has been “reborn” in front of the inexperienced Aveloya, and the two-legged playoff against the Galaxy will be Mourinho’s “showtime” back on Europe’s biggest stage. Benfica has already been eliminated from the Portuguese Cup and League Cup, and currently ranks third in the Primeira Liga with an unreachable gap to the top. His season should have ended by now, but Real Madrid has given him a lifeline. For Mourinho and Benfica, the hope for the second half of the season lies with Real Madrid and possibly the Champions League knockout stage.

In the first leg of the playoffs, Real Madrid’s Raúl Asensio and Rodrygo were suspended and unable to play. After the draw was announced, even bookmakers and Opta data firm lost confidence in Real Madrid. In the title odds, Arsenal (4.5) leads, followed by Bayern (5.5), with Manchester City, Barcelona (8), and PSG (9) in the second tier. Real Madrid dropped to 7th place at 13. Opta also gives Arsenal the highest probability to win (28.3%), while Real Madrid fell to 9th (3.2%).

Notably, if Mourinho can continue to work miracles against Real Madrid, the round of 16 will bring old rivals again: either a fiery Lisbon derby against Sporting CP or another battle with Guardiola, a decade-long adversary. Whether this Champions League knockout stage becomes Mourinho’s “stage” again depends on Real Madrid’s cooperation.

Other playoff draws include PSG facing a “French domestic battle” again with a nearly collapsing Monaco. Inter Milan and Newcastle must “travel far”: the former will face the challenges of the Arctic Circle in February against Bodø/Glimt, while the latter will fly over 6,000 kilometers to Azerbaijan to challenge another dark horse, Qarabağ. Juventus will face Galatasaray in Istanbul’s “hellish home ground,” and Dortmund vs. Atalanta is the only clash between teams from the big five leagues.