Benfica vs Real Madrid summary: score, stats, goals & highlights | Champions League playoff first leg 2025/26

"You're a f**king racist"

After Prestianni's alleged racist slur, Kylian Mbappé could be seen angrily defending Vinícius. Per these images captured by Movistar Plus, Mbappé was seen yelling at Prestianni: “You're a f**king racist, you're a f**king racist.”

Arbeloa speaks: "Something we have to eradicate"

Real Madrid boss Álvaro Arbeloa has now spoken to Movistar Plus. Asked how Vinícius is, Arbeloa said: “He's fine, he’s calm, it’s not something that anyone likes. But you have to ask the Benfica players about what was said.”

Arbeloa added of Gianlucia Prestianni's alleged racist slur: “This is something we have to eradicate from the world of football."

All tonight's UCL scores

Here all the results in all four of today's Champions League first legs. Galatasaray earned a notable win over Juventus, thumping the Vecchia Signora in Turkey, while holders Paris Saint-Germain have recovered from 2-0 down to win at Monaco. In Germany, meanwhile, Serhou Guirassy and Max Beier have put Dortmund in charge of their tie with Atalanta.

Today's results around the grounds:

- Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus
- Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid
- Monaco 2-3 PSG
- Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Atalanta

"Defeat = Avenged"

Here are the stats from tonight's game in Lisbon, courtesy of our friends at SofaScore:

Valverde speaks: "It's lamentable"

Right after the final whistle, Real Madrid's Fede Valverde speaks to Movistar Plus on Spanish TV.

Valverde says he didn't hear what was allegedly said by Prestianni, but adds: “According to the team-mates who were close by, he said something nasty to him.”

Valverde continued: “I think it's lamentable. So many cameras these days at soccer games, and it isn’t caught on camera. It’s lamentable. I’m proud of the team-mates who defended Vini.”

Peeep peeep peeep! Real Madrid have a first-leg win in Lisbon!

Tonight's game was nothing like January's meeting at the Estádio da Luz: Madrid played with real solidity at the back - and in attack, could well have had more than the one goal.

The visitors' solitary strike was a stunner: a howitzer of a shot from Vinícius, right into Trubin's top corner.

As for what happened after Vinicius's goal: if it's proven that Gianluca Prestianni is guilty of the racist slur that he's accused of, the book should be launched quite energetically in the Argentine's direction.

Madrid win a corner on the left, deep inside the Benfica half. Rubbish continues to rain down from the stands. Indeed, replays show that a bottle strikes Vinícius on the back. 

Finally, the corner is taken, and...

When Benfica finally win the ball back, it's whipped into the Madrid box from the left. Carvajal has Lukebakio breathing down his neck, but successfully shepherds it behind for a goal-kick. 

Madrid are a couple of minutes away from taking a lead back to the Spanish capital.

Carvajal is indeed on - not for Alexander-Arnold, but for Carreras. So he trots over to the left flank.

Madrid remain in control of possession. Dani Carvajal is about to be brought on for the visitors, it appears.

When the corner is finally taken, it comes to nought. Benfica promptly scamper up the field in search of a late leveller, but can't find a way through.

Mbappé leads the counter-counter, slipping it left to Vinícius. The Brazilian can't carve out space to shoot, so turns away from goal and finds a blue shirt. What follows is a most welcome Madrid session of keep-ball.

Real Madrid make a stoppage-time substitution, replacing Camavinga with 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch.

That corner still hasn't been taken: Tchouaméni complained to Letexier that something had been thrown onto the field from the stands, before the referee took it over to his fourth official.

Huijsen comes striding out of defence, before trying to slip Mbappé in behind the Benfica defence. Huijsen's ball isn't quite on point, though, and Mbappé is beaten to it. Madrid win a corner, though, and they will gladly take that at this stage of the night.

Sudakov goes into the book, for an offence that I must confess I missed.

There wil be TWELVE minutes of time added on.

Back come Benfica, working it right to Lukebakio. He pings it first-time across goal, but Rüdiger is there to turn it away from the danger area! Madrid's defensive work has been most assiduous tonight.

Finally that free-kick is taken... and it almost loops off the wall and into the net! For those of you not under the age of 40-odd, think West Germany's opener against England in the 1990 World Cup semis.

Sidny struck it, before it bounced off Carreras in the wall. Courtois was scrambling to get back across his line, but the ball dropped just over the bar.

Real Madrid make a change, replacing Arda Güler with Brahim Díaz.

Then Mbappé is the latest man to go into the book, apparently for giving Letexier a rather too abundant helping of lip.

Benfica still haven't taken that free-kick, which was awarded roughly a day and a half ago.

That, of course, means Mourinho won't be on the touchline at the Bernabéu next week.

Sidny receives on the left, before stroking the ball to Richard Ríos at the top of the box. Camavinga and Vinícius both converge on the substitute, bringing him down between them.

Mourinho races to the fourth official to demand Vinícus be shown his second yellow. Vinícius isn't shown his second yellow - but Mourinho is given his marching orders, for stating his case rather too forcefully.

Sidny is straight into the action. Picking up the ball just inside the Madrid half, he puts his head down and sets off towards goal, before launching a piledriver of a shot. Unfortuantely for Benfica, that piledriver flies well over the bar.

Venomous Vini

Vinícius scores the opening goal in Lisbon.

Two more substitutions for Benfica. Mourinho replaces Aursnes with Sidney, and brings on Lukebakio for Prestianni.

At the other end, Vinícius shoots from a similar position to his goal. This effort isn't quite as well directed, and Trubin parries.

Prestianni is booked for a dive. Scampering into the box from the right, he flops to the turf under Camavinga's challenge, but he isn't winning a spot-kick for that. A yellow card.

Soccer

Vinícius Júnior walks off in protest, racist abuse alleged

Here, courtesy of my colleague Will Gittins, is the full story on that Vinícius-Prestianni racism incident. The Brazilian appears to have alleged that the Argentine called him a “monkey”. If he did, that is simply unacceptable and he should face a stiff punishment.

A double change for Benfica. Schjelderup and Rafa Silva are off, with Richard Ríos and Heorhiy Sudakov on.

At one end, Benfica work it to Pavlidis, who tries to turn - but loses it.

Madrid break, releasing Vinícius to run at the Benfica defence amid the boos. Run he does - and when he twists and turns his way into space to shoot, he pokes an effort at Trubin's near post. The Ukrainian deals with it.

Cutting in from the left, Vinícius tries to carve out a yard of space to shoot. He can't find said yard, so instead tries to scoop a ball into Mbappé. He can't find his team-mate.

A moment later, Vinícius does get a shot away, but it's right at Trubin.

Just as I write that, Rafa Silva breaks into space on the right, sending a ball across the box that is just too long for Schjelderup. 

Schjelderup collects and swings it back into the box, but Madrid clear. A moment later, it's back in the visiting box, where it drops to Pavlidis with his back to goal. He dallies, and Huijsen gets a foot in to poke it away.

Real Madrid are totally bossing this game now. Since that penalty shout at the beginning of the half, there's been barely a peep from the hosts in attack.

A landmark goal for Vini

Vinícius is now Brazil's second-top scorer in the history of the Champions League.

Again the idiotic boos ring out as Vinícius drives towards the byline. Dedic stands up and wins the goal-kick, much to the home crowd's delight.

Vinícius is now getting booed very loudly whenever he gets the ball. Which is ever so fair, obviously.

We're back underway in Lisbon. Madrid lead through that Vinícius wonder goal, which now feels like about a year ago.

Mbappé is now giving it to Prestianni with both barrels. It appears it was the Argentine who is alleged to have issued the racist slur, rather than a member of the crowd, as I suggested earlier.

Whoever it was, the player who was booked was Vinícius. Hmm.

Replays seem to show Vinícius telling the referee he was called a “monkey”.

We still don't appear to have had that announcement.

There was also a red card for somebody on the Benfica bench, by the way. That came after tempers flared between both squads. 

Mbappé is currently having a very heated word with Otamendi, pointing an angry finger in the Argentine's direction.

After receiving that booking, Vinícius then seems to tell the referee he's been receiving racist abuse. Letexier immediately pauses the game. The protocol now dictates that there should be an announcement over the tannoy, ordering the crowd to stop.

Hmm. It all kicks off after that Vinícius goal. As he celebrates, the Brazilian appears to gesture to the crowd, presumably in response to abuse he's been getting.

Vinícius and Prestianni square up, and that confrontation ends up with the former being booked.

Mbappé has been thoroughly walloping them in this season - but his aim has been a shade off tonight, Opta notes:

On the edge of the Madrid box, Rafa Silva plays it into Pavlidis, who tries to barrel his way into the area. Rüdiger slides in fairly enthusiastically on the Greek striker, who flops to the turf like a sack of spuds. Benfica immediately appeal for a penalty, but the referee says no.

And, in any case, Silva was offside.

Peeeep! We're back underway at the Estádio da Luz.

No half-time changes for either team.

Madrid close to opener - but unable to take chances

Mbappé shows his frustration after a series of Madrid chances went without a goal late in the first half.

Scoreless first half "unfair" on Madrid

On X, AS journalist Tomás Roncero has described the halftime scoreline as “very unfair” on Real Madrid. After that series of chances for Mbappé, Madrid deserve to be ahead, Roncero says.

Hakimi on target as PSG level at Monaco

Madrid have now come very, very close to scoring, but Da Luz is the only stadium yet to see any goals tonight. Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois has also had a big hand in that 0-0 halftime scoreline, pulling off a stunning stop to deny Fredrik Aursnes.

Over at the Stade Louis II, Paris Saint-Germain have now drawn level with Monaco at 2-2, thanks to a 41st-minute goal by former Real Madrid man Achraf Hakimi. Elsewhere, Serhou Guirassy's goal remains the difference in Dortmund.

Around the grounds: tonight's UCL scores

FT: Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus
HT: Benfica 0-0 Real Madrid
HT: Monaco 2-2 PSG
HT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Atalanta

There's another half-chance for Mbappé, who hits a bouncing ball in the box. But it's blocked, and that's the half!

It's stating the bleedin' obvious, but Madrid have been rather better tonight than they were in Lisbon last month. By the time the period came to an end, they had grown utterly dominant. It now remains to be seen whether the break takes the wind out of their sails.

Goalless at the break.

Again Real Madrid come forward, and Valverde wins a corner.

Madrid would, without doubt, rather Monsieur Letexier didn't blow for half time. This is, by a mile, their best spell of the game thus far.

Madrid are suddenly all over Benfica.

First, Vinícius has a shot blocked, the ball flying behind for a corner. From the dead ball, Madrid work it to Güler on the right-hand side of the box. The Turk whips a vicious curling shot low towards Trubin's far corner, but the keeper somehow saves!

We're into three minutes of time added on, by the way.

Another fine chance for Mbappé!

It's excellent stuff from Camavinga. He turns away from his man on the halfway line, before setting off towards the Benfica box. Camavinga maybe takes a second too long to release it to Mbappé - but when he does, his compatriots cuts inside to shoot from 12 yards. It's a wonderful chance for Madrid to take the lead, but Trubin saves!

Dedic swings in a fizzing, curling ball from the right, but Madrid deal with it.

Los Blancos break, and Mbappé slips in Carreras, who returns the ball to the Frenchman at the top of the box - via a lovely backheel from Vinícius.

It's fine play - but Mbappé can't finish it off! His sidefooted finish flies just over.

Silva is, it would appear, going to carry on for now.

What an opening for Real Madrid!

Los Blancos break quickly, and get Alexander-Arnold into a position to send a first-time ball into the box. His pass looks to be right onto Mbappé's toe, but the Frenchman can't quite reach it!

Had Mbappé got to the ball, that was, in all likelihood, 1-0.

You're not missing any action in Lisbon right now, by the way. Benfica's Rafa Silva has been down and receiving treatment for a good couple of minutes now. He rather looks like he can't go on.

Benfica's Madrid goal glut

There's an eye-catching piece of info from the Spanish stats guru Mister Chip: in three away games against Benfica, Real Madrid have conceded 14 goals.

So far, however, they've kept the Portuguese out.

Now it's Madrid's turn to keep the ball for a sustained spell inside the opposition half.

Güler's cute little ball almost finds Vinícius inside the Benfica box, but it's blocked. A few moments later, the visitors work it left to Carreras, who tries to fizz a ball into the danger area. Again, the delivery is repelled.

Prestianni shoots on goal for Benfica.

I should also mention, of course, that there was an early kick off in tonight's playoff ties.

And it delivered an eye-catching result: Galatasay thumped Juventus 5-2 in Turkey, Noa Lang netting twice for the hosts.

Incidentally, there are two other playoff first legs taking place right now - and the Champions League holders find themselves in a spot of bother.

PSG are 2-1 down to fellow Ligue 1 team Monaco, for whom Balogun has scored twice. Desirée Doué has just cut the deficit for the Parisians, though.

In Germany, meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund lead Italians Atalanta 1-0, thanks to Serhou Guirassy's goal.

Benfica enjoy a good little spell of possession inside the Madrid half. They hold on to it for a good couple of minutes, before Prestianni decides he's going to have a pop. 

It flies miles over the crossbar.

At the other end, Mbappé tries a shot from a similar range, but it's rather easier for the Benfica keeper. Trubin watches the ball fly yards over the bar.

That is a save and a half from Courtois.

From 30 yards or so Aursnes connects with a howitzer of a shot. It looks, for all the world, to be arrowing into the bottom corner.

But Courtois gets down quickly, before getting the firmest of firm hands to the shot. Plenty of home fans inside Da Luz were already preparing to celebrate the opener there.

Receiving on the left, Schjelderup plays a one-two with Silva, but can't quite reach the latter's backflick.

Alexander-Arnold nips in to steal the ball, before going for a trickshot-style turn on the edge of his own box. The time or the place? Discuss. He pulls it off, before striding away from his box.

That's the best chance of the night so far, and it falls to Real Madrid!

For the first time, Alexander-Arnold finds space to bomb forward and deliver into the box. His low ball is deflected by a Benfica boot - right into the path of Vinícius.

With his back to goal, the Brazilian spins and shoots low... but it flies just past Trubin's far post!

Now Arda Güler gets his foot behind a pot shot from distance for Real Madrid. His effort is hit with greater force than that Dedic attempt a moment ago, but it no more than stings Trubin's palms. A comfortable stop for the Benfica keeper.

After a few minutes of Madrid dominance of possession, Benfica scamper back up the other end - and create a very decent shooting chance for Prestianni.

On the left, Schjelderup cuts inside into the Madrid box, before the ball drops to Prestianni on the edge of the area. The Argentine's effort isn't enough to trouble Courtois, but the hosts do win a corner.

Said corner finally falls to Dedic, who tries his luck from range. It's a daisy-cutter right down Courtois' gullet, though.

It was all Benfica ball initially; it's now all Madrid ball.

The visitors work it left to Vinícius, who runs at Dedic. The Brazilian tries to get around his marker before skipping into the box, but drags Dedic down. Free-kick to the home team.

Well, just as I say Madrid have done naff all with the ball, they register their first shot on target. From just outside the area, Mbappé doesn't need a second invitation to have a swing at it - and swing at it he does. But it's right at Trubin.

For the first time, Madrid have a prolonged spell on the ball. They have, at the time of writing, done absolutely naff all with it, but they have at least turned the volume down a little inside Da Luz.

Btw: in a switch not un-reminiscent of Manchester United's hasty kit change at the Dell three decades ago, Madrid are not in the dark grey change strip they wore in January. They have, like Fergie all those years ago, opted to swap grey for blue.

As, I suppose, will be no surprise to anybody, the home fans are making a great deal of noise.

There are deafening whistles as Madrid set off in their first forward foray of any note. Those whistles, though, turn into cheers when a misplaced pass trundles harmlessly out for a Benfica throw-in.

It's been all Benfica in these opening few minutes. On the right, Rafa Silva slips a lovely little ball into Aursnes' run, finding the Norwegian on the Madrid byline.

Aursnes tries to cut it back - and it takes a vital intervention from Rüdiger to avoid the pass finding Schjelderup. He was standing in an exceedingly inviting position on the penalty spot.

Right away, Benfica win a free-kick in almost exactly the same position from which Trubin scored that goal in January. 

This time, Real Madrid deal with it. Prestianni picks up the clearance and looks to hit the bouncing ball towards goal, but he absolutely shanks it. It's currently rising into low Earth orbit.

Peeeep! Monsieur Letexier gets us underway in Lisbon!

Who is the VAR

The video assistant referee, by the way, is France's Jérôme Brisard. The assistant VAR is England's Jarred Gillett, the only non-Frenchman in tonight's lineup of match officials.

A reminder of tonight's teams at Da Luz

As the captains shake hands and give that coin a vigorous tossing, let's take one final look at the lineups

Benfica:

Trubin, Dedic, Otamendi, Araújo, Dahl, Aursnes, Barreiro, Schjelderup, Prestianni, Rafa Silva, Pavlidis.

Real Madrid:

Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras, Valverde, Arda Güler, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.

Benfica and Real Madrid emerge from the tunnel!

Out come the teams, out blares the Champions League anthem. Ah, fantastic stuff.

We are just a couple of minutes away from kickoff in Portugal.

Who is the referee?

France's François Letexier is the man in the middle at Da Luz.

Letexier's on-field assistant referees are compatriots Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, while the fourth official is Jérémie Pignard, also from France.

Soccer

What is José Mourinho’s record against Real Madrid? Results and win-loss ratio

You can read more about every Real Madrid game against a Mourinho-managed teamin this piece.

What's Madrid's record vs Mou?

Meanwhile, this is Real Madrid's seventh meeting against a José Mourinho-managed team. So far for Los Merengues, it's: P6 W4 D1 L1. January's defeat was Los Blancos’ first against the Portuguese 

Before that 4-2 loss, Madrid registered three UCL group-stage wins and a draw against Mourinho's Porto in 2002 and 2003, and a win over his Manchester United team in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup.

How many times have Benfica and Real Madrid faced off?

This is Benfica and Real Madrid's fifth European Cup meeting: as I mentioned at the beginning of this live, last month’s league-phase clash in Lisbon was their first in a very long time - since the second leg of the 1964/65 quarter-finals, to be exact.

Real Madrid won that game 2-1, thanks to goals by Ramón Grosso and Paco Gento; but it was Benfica who advanced, having thumped Los Merengues 5-1 in Lisbon three weeks earlier. The great Eusebio scored two in that five-goal pummelling.

Before then, Benfica and Real Madrid had met in the European Cup final in 1962 - another game in which the Portuguese scored five. Eusebio got a brace in that 5-3 win, too

In that title decider 64 years ago, Madrid’s Ferenc Puskás was on the losing side despite scoring the second European Cup final hat-trick of his career. The Hungarian remains the only payer to score three in a European Cup/Champions League final but not win the game

Magical Mbappé

Fifteen minutes until kickoff in Lisbon - and it's worth throwing the spotlight on Real Madrid's attacking dangerman, who returns to Los Blancos' lineup tonight.

In his second season at Madrid, Kylian Mbappé has the thoroughly respectable total of 38 goals in 31 games in all competitions.

And in the Champions League, Mbappé is on pace to beat the single-season goals record. The Frenchman has 13 in seven this term, leaving him four goals short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s unmatched mark of 17, from Madrid’s UCL-winning campaign in 2013/14.

Real Madrid

The contract clause that could put Mourinho back on Madrid’s doorstep

Mourinho's comments about his contract were referring to the fact his two-year Benfica deal has a break clause at the end of this season. That has led to suggestions he could use that to join Madrid ahead of 2026/27; indeed, he’s listed as high as third favourite for the job in the betting.

You can read more about Mourinho’s Benfica clausein this piece by my colleagues Marco Ruiz and Calum Roche.

What the coaches said: Arbeloa, Real Madrid

Tchouméni checks out the turf

Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni takes a stroll on the Estádio da Luz field ahead of kickoff in Lisbon.

Soccer

Real rematch: What to know about Benfica, Madrid’s Champions League playoff rivals

For some deeper insight into Mourinho's Benfica team, let me point you in the direction of this team profile by AS soccer expert Axel Torres.

At a glance: Benfica's most recent results

Benfica's last five games: WWDWW

Feb. 13: Santa Clara 1-2 Benfica, Primeira Liga
Feb. 8: Benfica 2-1 Alverca, Primeira Liga
Feb. 1: Tondela 0-0 Benfica, Primeira Liga
Jan. 28: Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid, UCL
Jan. 25: Benfica 4-0 Estrela, Primeira Liga

What's Benfica's domestic form like?

Like Madrid, Benfica are on an exceedingly decent run of results in their domestic league; unlike Los Blancos, however, they're not top of the table.

The Portuguese have won five and drawn one of their last six in the Primeira Liga, and in fact remain unbeaten so far this term in the league. But, notwithstanding that undefeated run, Benfica remain third in Primeira Liga, seven points off leaders Porto.

Most recently, Mourinho’s men won their second league game in a row on Friday, beating strugglers Santa Clara 2-1 with two first-half goals: one by Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis, another an own goal by Santa Clara defender Paulo Victor.

Champions League

What is the curse of Béla Guttmann? The bad luck that haunts Benfica in Europe

For more on Benfica's ‘Béla Guttman curse’, may I suggest you check out this piece by my colleague Roddy Cons.

Benfica still to win Euro trophy since Guttman exit

While referring to Benfica as two-time European champions, it's worth noting that those continental crowns were won 64 and 65 years ago, respectively. 

Both European Cup triumphs - in the 1961 and 1962 - came under the Hungarian Béla Guttman. And I am now contractually obliged to remind that Mr Guttman then left over a contract dispute, before issuing the following curse on the club: “Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion.”

Clearly, talk of curses is absolute, utter and, may I add, complete hogwash. But - BUT - it is also true that Benfica have indeed not won zip in Europe since: eight continental finals, eight defeats.

Benfica back in UCL playoffs

Unimpressive as their league-phase total is, Benfica are through - and this is their second straight season in the Champions League knockout-phase playoffs.

The two-time European champions qualified rather more comfortably last year, taking in 16th in the league phase's inaugural campaign. After beating Monaco in the playoffs, Benfica then lost to Madrid's arch rivals Barcelona in the last 16.

Benfica through despite low league-phase total

Benfica qualified for the knockout stages with just nine points. Bear in mind that, in last year's Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb won 11 points and failed to advance from the league phase.

Benfica's UCL miracle

Turning our attentions to Benfica: it is, frankly, a miracle that they are in the knockouts at all. They had zero points at the halfway stage of the league phase, let's not forget.

The first of those four opening losses, at home to Qarabag in September, led to the sacking of Bruno Lage and José Mourinho’s return as head coach, 25 years after he began his head coaching career with the As Águias.

Under Mourinho, Benfica then followed up that Qarabag defeat with three more Champions League losses: to Chelsea, Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen. 

However, three wins from their final four were enough to take Benfica through on goal difference - thanks to that all-important Trubin header against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid's recent form

Last five games: WWWLW

Feb. 14: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad, LaLiga
Feb. 8: Valencia 0-2 Real Madrid, LaLiga
Feb. 1: Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano, LaLiga
Jan. 28: Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid, UCL
Jan. 24: Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid, LaLiga

Dedic and Aursnes in for Benfica

For Benfica tonight, there are two changes to the team that started Friday's 2-1 Portuguese league win over Santa Clara.

Amar Dedic and Fredrik Aursnes come into Mourinho's line-up, with António Silva and Enzo Barrenechea making way.

Benfica's lineup is confirmed

Benfica boss José Mourinho has now named his XI: Trubin, Dedic, Otamendi, Araújo, Dahl, Aursnes, Barreiro, Schjelderup, Prestianni, Rafa Silva, Pavlidis.

LaLiga good, UCL not so good

In LaLiga, indeed, Real Madrid have now one eight in a row: five since Arbeloa took charge in early January, plus three more under his predecessor, Xabi Alonso. 

In the Champions League, Madrid's form is less encouraging: three defeats in the last five.

Madrid feeling better about themselves now

But right now, the collective disposition at the Bernabéu is somewhat sunnier than three weeks ago. Since Jan. 28, three straight LaLiga wins have taken Madrid back to the top of the Spanish league table.

Álvaro Arbeloa’s men leapfrogged arch rivals Barcelona this weekend. Having beaten Real Sociedad 4-1 on Saturday, Los Blancos moved two points clear at the top. They then retained said two-point lead on Monday, when the Blaugrana lost 2-1 to fellow Catalans Girona.

Real red mist

That ignominious first aside, it was a truly messy night for Real Madrid. Not only were they taken to the cleaners, but they had two men sent off in the process.

Defender Raúl Asencio was the first to go, after collecting two bookings; Rodrygo Goes then followed Asencio down the tunnel, for giving the referee too much lip. Asencio and Rodrygo are both, obviously, suspended tonight.

Trubin spells Real trouble

The defining image of Madrid's disastrous Lisbon defeat in January was, clearly, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s stoppage-time goal for Benfica. Not only was it an absolute striker’s finish, but it sent As Águias into the knockouts on goal difference, at Marseille’s expense

Trubin’s goal was the first time Real Madrid have ever conceded to a keeper in European competition, note the soccer stats specialists Opta. The Ukrainian became the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League.

Madrid in playoffs again

Madrid really weren't expecting to be in this month's knockout-phase playoffs. But, as we've established, that's their punishment for being given something of a schooling by Benfica three weeks ago. Led by former Madrid head coach José Mourinho, the Portuguese really should have scored more than just the four.

Madrid had headed to Lisbon sitting third, with a top-eight place seemingly all but secure. But defeat dropped them six places - from third to ninth - and Los Merengues missed out on automatic last-16 qualification.

Madrid have now had to settle for knockout-phase playoff spot in both seasons since the league phase was introduced. In 2024/25, the Spaniards finished even lower in the league phase - 11th

Dazzling Da Luz

No XI as yet from Benfica, whose most recent social-media post were these pics of tonight's Champions League stage, the Estádio da Luz.

Madrid short-term memories of Da Luz are, clearly, dreadful. Longer term, I probably don't need to remind you, they're rather happier. This is, of course, the arena in which Los Blancos won their 10th European title in 2014, ending a 12-year Champions League trophy drought.

Mbappé back for Madrid

There's just the one change to the team that started Saturday's LaLiga win over Real Sociedad - and it's the change we all expected. Kylian Mbappé, who missed this weekend's 4-1 win with a knee niggle that has been troubling him for much of the season, returns to the XI.

Gonzalo García is the slightly unfortunate casualty of Mbappé's return. The young Spaniard bagged a lovely striker's finish against La Real - but Kylian Mbappé is Kylian Mbappé.

Real Madrid lineup is confirmed

The lineups tend to be announced an hour or so before kickoff - but tonight, Real Madrid have gone aggressively early. This is Álvaro Arbeloa's XI: Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras, Valverde, Arda Güler, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.

From no meetings in decades, to three in a month

Real Madrid and Benfica are both historic names in European soccer, yet they had not met for just over six decades before this season - not since 1965.

Now, the two teams are to cross swords three times in under a month: Jan. 28's league-phase matchup; today's first leg in Lisbon; and the knockout-phase playoff decider in Madrid, this time next week.

Benfica vs Real Madrid: welcome!

Hello there! Three weeks ago, Real Madrid had their botties thoroughly spanked by Benfica. Now, it's thanks to that 4-2 defeat that the 15-time European champions must return to Lisbon to face As Águias once more.

A place in the last-16 is on the line in this knockout-phase playoff, whose first leg is tonight. Kickoff in the Portuguese capital is an hour and a half away; we’ll bring you team news just as soon as it’s in.