Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Jnr
Real Madrid are eyeing a first leg victory as they travel to face Benfica at the Estádio da Luz in Portugal on February 17, 2026, in the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
The first group-stage encounter ended in disappointments for Los Blancos, who suffered a shocking 4-2 defeat to the Portuguese side despite a brace from Kylian Mbappé.
This time, the Spanish giants head into the game in an excellent form in La Liga, having leapfrogged Barcelona to top the table with 60 points after 24 matches.
The likes of Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and others are in brilliant form, hoping to avenge their earlier defeat that denied them automatic qualification from the group stage.
Interim head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, speaking ahead of the match, cautioned his players to remain focused and learn lessons from their embarrassing loss.
He stressed the importance of balance in defense and attack to secure a result that would make the second leg more manageable and ease pressure on the squad.
“We have to give absolutely everything to win. That’s always the objective. But winning will require us to play very, very well. We must get many things right—defend well, attack well, stay focused on set-pieces, and play a complete game for 90 minutes,” Arbeloa told the media.
Meanwhile, José Mourinho’s Benfica have proven to be a tough side, particularly at the Estádio da Luz, where they are difficult to break down.
Key men such as Vangelis Pavlidis, Nicolás Otamendi, Anatoliy Trubin, António Silva, and Tomás Araújo have been instrumental, contributing goals and solidifying the team defensively and in midfield.
Benfica, currently third in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, host the first leg of the tie at 20:00 GMT.
Mourinho warned that Real Madrid are coming into the game “wounded” after the first-leg result and will be keen to make a statement.
“They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition, and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League. Very demanding, without a doubt. I’m used to these kinds of ties. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg, but I say there is no definitive result,” Mourinho told the press.
Although both teams are determined to win, Real Madrid appear to be favorites given their current run of form and star-studded attack, particularly Vinícius Jr.’s resurgence alongside Mbappé.
Benfica, however, cannot be underestimated, especially with the experience of multiple Champions League winner José Mourinho in the dugout, strategizing against Arbeloa, who is still finding his footing in mainstream coaching.
SB/JE
