Benfica vs Real Madrid: Match Preview and Team Updates

Real Madrid and Benfica face off again in a Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday at the Estádio da Luz.

The two clubs meet just three weeks after their thrilling 4-2 match in the league phase.

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic last-minute header, giving Benfica a key victory and bumping Real Madrid out of automatic qualification.

Benfica vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news

• Date: Tuesday, 17th February.
• Kick off: 8pm BST.
• Venue: Estádio do Sport Lisboa.

Benfica team news

Jose Mourinho may face selection issues for Tuesday’s match, as Bosnian defender Amar Dedic is out due to injury.

Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Aursnes is also doubtful with a muscle injury from training.

Samuel Soares and Joao Veloso are uncertain for the match, further testing Mourinho’s squad. Alexander Bah has returned to training but is unlikely to play.

Real Madrid team news

Real Madrid will travel to Lisbon without several key players, complicating Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad management.

England’s Jude Bellingham is unavailable due to a hamstring injury sustained in early February. His absence is significant, with Arbeloa highlighting his leadership skills and talent.

Brazilian winger Rodrygo is also out after a red card in their last encounter.

Raul Asencio is suspended after his late dismissal in the previous match. Eder Militao remains out with a long-term hamstring injury.

Kylian Mbappe is expected to play despite a knee issue, with Arbeloa stating he is working hard to be fit.

Form

Benfica

Benfica is currently on a five-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. They sit third in the Primeira Liga with 52 points from 22 matches, chasing leaders Porto. Their latest game saw a tough 2-1 win against Santa Clara on February 13.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid arrives in Lisbon in strong domestic form, winning three straight La Liga matches since their last Champions League match against Benfica. They lead La Liga with 60 points from 24 matches, two points ahead of Barcelona. Their recent performance includes a convincing 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on February 14.

Predicted lineups

Benfica: Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Barrenechea; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carreras, Huijsen, Rudiger, Alexander-Arnold; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde; Vinicius, Mbappe, Guler.

How to watch Benfica vs Real Madrid?

The match will be shown on TNT Sports in the UK, with streaming options available on Discovery+.

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