Real Madrid heads to Lisbon for their final Champions League group match against Benfica on Wednesday evening.
Real Madrid is currently third in the group table with 15 points from seven games. A win would secure them a place in the last-16, while a loss or draw will leave them relying on results from other matches to avoid the playoffs.
Benfica must win and hope for favorable outcomes in other matches to qualify for the knockout stage.
Benfica vs Real Madrid – Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, 28th January
- Kick-off: 8pm BST
- Venue: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon
- Referee: Davide Massa
- VAR: Marco Di Bello
- Last meeting: Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-6 agg), European Cup quarter-final, 16th March 1965
Benfica Team News
Benfica may be missing key players due to injuries ahead of this important match. Right-back Alexander Bah is out with a knee injury and has not resumed training. Samuel Soares and Dodi Lukebakio are also unavailable due to muscle and ankle injuries, and midfielder Richard Ríos is dealing with a dislocated shoulder, expected to return in May. Joao Veloso is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Despite these challenges, Mourinho aims to lead his team to victory, emphasizing the need to give their best regardless of circumstances.
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid faces several defensive injury issues but welcomes the return of Aurélien Tchouameni from suspension. Injured players include Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring), Antonio Rüdiger (knee), Eder Militão (tendon), and Ferland Mendy (ankle). Alexander-Arnold and Rüdiger are recovering well and may return for the match against Rayo Vallecano on 1st February.
Manager Álvaro Arbeloa has made significant progress since his arrival, utilizing a 4-3-3 formation focused on control, disciplined pressing, and defensive stability. Kylian Mbappé is in top form, leading the attack with 11 goals in six Champions League matches this season, matching a record set by Cristiano Ronaldo. He scored both goals in the recent 2-0 win against Villarreal, while Vinícius Júnior has provided valuable assists on the left flank.
Current Form
Benfica
Benfica suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Juventus in their last match, leaving them in 29th place with only six points, two points short of safety. They need to win to keep their chances alive. However, their domestic performance in the Primeira Liga is strong, remaining unbeaten with 13 wins and 6 draws from 19 matches.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid has shown a strong recovery under Arbeloa, winning their last three matches across all competitions. They recently defeated AS Monaco 6-1, with Mbappé scoring twice, bringing his Champions League tally to 11 goals. They also secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal, with Mbappé again scoring both goals.
Predicted Lineups
Benfica: Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Aursnes, Barrenechea; Prestianni, Barreiro, Sudakov; Pavlidis
Real Madrid: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius
How to Watch Benfica vs Real Madrid?
Viewers in the UK can catch the match on TNT Sports Extra or Discovery+.
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