Real Madrid and Benfica face each other again on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie at the Estádio da Luz, a venue that has already produced high drama between the sides this season.
The Spanish and Portuguese heavyweights meet just three weeks on from their thrilling 4-2 clash in the league phase. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a remarkable 98th‑minute header to seal the win and deny Real Madrid an automatic place in the knockout rounds.
Real Madrid team news
Alvaro Arbeloa must cope without several important squad members for the trip to Lisbon, adding extra difficulty to his preparation for this high‑stakes encounter.
Jude Bellingham is unavailable after picking up a hamstring injury at the beginning of February. His absence is a significant setback for Madrid given Arbeloa has spoken about the midfielder’s desire to be a leader and an example for the team.
Rodrygo is also out of contention. He received a red card in the sides’ previous meeting in January and is suspended for this game.
Raul Asencio is banned too after his late sending‑off in that same fixture, while long‑term casualty Éder Militão continues his recovery from a hamstring problem and remains on the sidelines.
There is more optimism around Kylian Mbappé, who has been managing a knee issue but is still expected to feature. Arbeloa explained that the forward has been playing through discomfort and that they chose to rest him so he would be ready to start on Tuesday.
Real Madrid predicted lineup
Possible Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois; Carreras, Huijsen, Rudiger, Alexander-Arnold; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde; Vinicius, Mbappe, Guler.
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday, 17th February.
How to watch Benfica vs Real Madrid?
In the United Kingdom, the match will be shown live on TNT Sports.
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