Benfica vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Knockout Playoffs
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After a thrilling contest at the end of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Benfica and Real Madrid now face off at the Estadio da Luz in the knockout playoffs.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime / US – Paramount+
Benfica preview: Brilliant form
On the final day of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Benfica managed to defeat Real Madrid by four goals to two to deny Madrid a top eight spot and squeeze into the top 24 with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring deep into stoppage-time.
The Portuguese giants, with former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho at the helm, has managed to oversee an unbeaten Liga Portugal campaign in charge of Benfica but they are seven points adrift of league leaders and O Classico rivals FC Porto.
Real Madrid preview: Getting results
Real Madrid come into this one on the back of a 4-1 demolition of Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu in La Liga at the weekend in a game that once again majorly flattered Los Blancos with Alvaro Arbeloa’s side struggling for cohesion.
Madrid have struggled in terms of their performance level throughout this season and again now still under Alvaro Arbeloa but they are staying in the title race in Spain by somehow getting very flattering results.
Benfica team news: Couple of injuries
Benfica have a couple of injuries to their starting lineup from that win over Madrid as full-back Amar Dedic is now sidelined alongside Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Aursnes.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Araujo, A. Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Barrenechea; Schjelderup, R. Silva, Prestianni; Pavlidis
Unavailable: Soares (Injured), Tome (Suspended), Bah (Injured), Dedic (Injured), Rios (Injured), Veloso (Injured), Wynder (Injured), Aursnes (Injured)
Questionable:
Real Madrid team news: Couple of suspensions
Real Madrid head to Lisbon with a couple of key suspension issues as centre-back Raul Asencio is potentially sidelined alongside versatile attacker Rodrygo after they were both sent off in that thriller the other week. Kylian Mbappe was an unused substitute at the weekend but should be fine, fit and available here after a slight knee issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius
Unavailable: Asencio (Suspended), Militao (Injured), Bellingham (Injured), Rodrygo (Suspended)
Questionable: Mbappe (Fitness)
Benfica vs Real Madrid prediction
It will be a different game plan for Jose Mourinho and Benfica this season with the home team expecting to play a bit more pragmatically and defensively in the first of two legs. Ensuring they remain in the tie and can strike on the counter will be imperative for the hosts but Madrid, as has been the case in recent weeks, are a consistent goal threat even when playing poorly and they will want to put right what went wrong the other week.
Benfica vs Real Madrid Tip: Real Madrid to win & under 3.5 goals
