Benfica welcome Real Madrid to Estádio da Luz for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off on Tuesday, seeking to build on their dramatic 4-2 league-phase victory three weeks ago. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin's 98th-minute header secured Benfica's progression and forced Real Madrid into this extra tie. With Jose Mourinho facing his former club, both sides enter with injury concerns but high stakes for a last-16 spot.
The matchup revives memories of Benfica's stunning January triumph, where Trubin's header from a free-kick propelled the Portuguese side into the play-offs on goal difference, while leaving Real Madrid to rue red cards to Raul Asencio and Rodrygo. That result, Mourinho's first win over his old employers since 2013, has Benfica dreaming of an upset, though the manager cautioned, 'Real Madrid are wounded, and a wounded king is dangerous. We need to be at our highest level – maximum and almost bordering on perfection.'
Real Madrid, 15-time champions, arrive bolstered by Kylian Mbappe's expected return after a knee issue sidelined him against Real Sociedad. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa, a former Mourinho assistant, emphasized focus: 'Our goal isn't revenge; it's to win the Champions League, and beating Benfica is a step.' The Spanish side, who won 4-1 in La Liga at the weekend, miss Jude Bellingham (thigh, extended absence), Eder Militao (hamstring), and suspended duo Asencio and Rodrygo. Predicted line-up: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Guler, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.
Benfica, fourth in the Primeira Liga, are without Alexander Bah (knee) and doubt Fredrik Aursnes (muscle), but Vangelis Pavlidis nears a milestone with nine European goals. Their predicted XI: Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Barrenechea; Prestianni, Schjelderup, Sudakov; Pavlidis. Historically, Benfica hold a 3-1 edge over Madrid in four meetings, including the 1962 final. Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT, with the return leg on February 25. Winners face Sporting or Manchester City next.
