Real Madrid travel to Lisbon for the final matchday of the Champions League league phase to face Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Wednesday evening.
Real Madrid currently sit in third position in the table with 15 points from seven matches. A win will confirm their place the last-16, but a loss or draw would mean they will have to see other teams’ results to determine if they avoid the play-offs or not.
Benfica need to win and hope for results elsewhere to go their way to reach the knockout stage of the competition.
Benfica vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news
- 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 could be without several key players due to injury concerns heading into this crucial encounter. Alexander Bah, the Danish right-back, remains sidelined with a knee injury and is late in his recovery. He is not yet training on grass according to manager Jose Mourinho.
Additionally, Samuel Soares and Dodi Lukebakio are unavailable due to muscle and ankle injuries respectively, whilst midfielder Richard Ríos is dealing with a dislocated shoulder with an expected return in May. Joao Veloso is also sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Despite the injury setbacks, Mourinho will be determined to guide his team to victory, having declared that “the culture we have in this group is that, regardless of the objectives, when Benfica plays, you have to give your best.”
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid enter the match with multiple defensive injury concerns but have received a boost with Aurélien Tchouameni’s return from domestic suspension. Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring), Antonio Rüdiger (knee), Eder Militão (tendon) and Ferland Mendy (ankle) all remain unavailable, though Alexander-Arnold and Rüdiger are progressing in their recovery with possible returns expected for the Rayo Vallecano match on 1st February.
Manager Álvaro Arbeloa has built momentum since his appointment, implementing a 4-3-3 system focused on control, disciplined pressing, and defensive positioning rather than impulsive challenges. Kylian Mbappé will lead the attack, having netted 11 goals in six Champions League matches this season — equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2015/16 single league-phase record. The French striker has scored in consecutive matches, including both goals in the 2-0 victory over Villarreal at the weekend. Vinícius Júnior provides crucial width and playmaking from the left flank with four assists in the competition.
Form
Benfica
Mourinho’s side suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat to Juventus on Matchday 7, which leaves them in 29th place with just six points — two points adrift of 24th a place in the play-offs. The Portuguese side now faces an elimination scenario; victory is essential to keep their hopes alive. However, their domestic form in the Primeira Liga has been exceptional, remaining unbeaten with 13 wins and 6 draws from 19 matches.
Real Madrid
Los Blancos have recovered impressively under Arbeloa’s stewardship, claiming three successive victories across all competitions. Their 6-1 demolition of AS Monaco in midweek was particularly emphatic, with Mbappé scoring twice to move to 11 Champions League goals. The previous Saturday brought another convincing 2-0 La Liga triumph over Villarreal, with Mbappé once again finding the net twice.
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?
UK viewers can watch the match via TNT Sports Extra or Discovery+.
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