The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League season has thrown up a mouth-watering knockout playoff tie. After a shocking 4-2 defeat in the league phase just weeks ago, Real Madrid returns to the Estádio da Luz to face Benfica in a high-stakes first-leg encounter.
Match Overview
This is a battle between two of the most historic clubs in European football. While Real Madrid enters as the tournament favorite, Benfica has proven to be their “cryptonite” this season, handing Los Blancos a defeat that forced them into this playoff round.
- Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 UTC
- Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
- Competition: UEFA Champions League Playoff (1st Leg)
Live Score & Recent Form
- Current Score: Pre-match (0-0)
- Real Madrid Form: W-W-W-L-W (Coming off a 4-1 win vs. Real Sociedad)
- Benfica Form: W-W-D-W-L (Coming off a 2-1 win vs. Santa Clara)
Note: The last meeting on January 28, 2026, ended in a 4-2 victory for Benfica, with a late goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin sealing the result.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa faces a selection headache with Jude Bellingham (hamstring) and Rodrygo (suspension) unavailable. Benfica, under José Mourinho, remains mostly at full strength.
Real Madrid (Predicted 4-3-3)
| Position | Player | Note |
| GK | Thibaut Courtois | Returning to peak form |
| RB | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Attacking threat from deep |
| CB | Antonio Rüdiger | Defensive leader |
| CB | Dean Huijsen | Young talent stepping up |
| LB | Álvaro Carreras | Facing his former youth club |
| CDM | Aurélien Tchouaméni | The midfield anchor |
| CM | Federico Valverde | High energy and work rate |
| CM | Eduardo Camavinga | Key for transitions |
| RW | Arda Güler | Creative spark |
| LW | Vinícius Júnior | Main goal threat |
| ST | Kylian Mbappé | Declared fit for the clash |
Benfica (Predicted 4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player | Note |
| GK | Anatoliy Trubin | Scored in the last meeting |
| RB | Amar Dedić | Defensive stability |
| CB | Nicolás Otamendi | Veteran presence |
| CB | Tomás Araújo | Rising star |
| LB | Samuel Dahl | Modern attacking wing-back |
| CDM | Leandro Barreiro | Defensive screen |
| CDM | Enzo Barrenechea | Control in the pivot |
| RAM | Gianluca Prestianni | Dangerous on the flank |
| CAM | Georgiy Sudakov | Playmaking engine |
| LAM | Andreas Schjelderup | Scored twice in last H2H |
| ST | Vangelis Pavlidis | Physical target man |
Head-to-Head (H2H) Records
The historical record is surprisingly tilted in favor of the Portuguese giants, making them one of the few teams with a winning record against Real Madrid in Europe.
| Metric | Benfica | Real Madrid |
| All-Time Wins | 3 | 1 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Goals Scored | 15 | 8 |
| Last Match | 4 | 2 |
Betting Odds & Predictions
Despite the previous result, bookmakers still lean toward the experience of the 15-time champions.
- Real Madrid Win: 1.94
- Draw: 3.60
- Benfica Win: 3.80
- Our Prediction: 2-2 Draw. Real Madrid will likely correct their defensive lapses from the 4-2 loss, but Benfica’s home atmosphere under Mourinho makes them incredibly difficult to beat.
Conclusion
This tie is a classic “Experience vs. Momentum” scenario. Real Madrid possesses the unmatched DNA of the Champions League, but they enter this match bruised by injuries and a psychological scar from their 4-2 defeat in Lisbon just weeks ago. Under the guidance of José Mourinho, Benfica has transformed into a resilient, counter-attacking unit that knows exactly how to exploit Madrid’s high defensive line.
While Real Madrid is favored to eventually progress over two legs, the atmosphere at the Estádio da Luz will be electric. If Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior can find clinical touches early, Madrid may leave with a draw; however, if Andreas Schjelderup and Pavlidis find the same space they enjoyed in January, Benfica could secure another historic lead to take to the Bernabéu.
