Who: Benfica vs Real Madrid
Content: UEFA Champions League
Location: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
Date and time: Tuesday, February 17th, 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport has live text and photos from the playoff first leg between Benfica and Real Madrid.
The play-off phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) begins on Tuesday, with some of Europe’s biggest names taking part in the second round of the knockout stages. Perhaps there is no bigger player than Jose Mourinho’s Benfica team to take on his old club Real Madrid.
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Both teams already have recent history in this year’s tournament. On 28 January, Benfica defeated the Spanish giants in dramatic fashion with a last-minute header, ensuring the Portuguese side’s place in the play-offs.
Real’s devastating defeat cost them automatic qualification to the round of 16 and forced them into an extended knockout phase.
Al Jazeera Sports looks at the matchup, which has many factors at play, including a bit of personal pride as one of Real’s most successful managers.
What happened the last time Real Madrid played Benfica?
Goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin scored a stunning header in the 98th minute as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to retain their place in the Champions League and deny their storied opponents an automatic passage to the next round.
In an unusual final phase of the league, despite leading 3-2, the Portuguese side almost lost out of the final when Trubin came forward during a free-kick in the remaining seconds of stoppage time and scored the goal they needed to advance to the play-off round on goal difference.
The move sparked enthusiastic celebrations in Lisbon from Benfica players, fans and charismatic manager Mourinho.
Los Blancos had hoped to avoid the play-off round, but 15 points from eight games was not enough as Real finished with nine men after Raul Asensio and Rodrygo were sent off.
In a final twist, Madrid were handed a tough Champions League play-off draw with Benfica, the very team they had qualified for the play-offs.
What did Mbappé say after losing to Benfica?
Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappé questioned his team’s ambition after the heavy defeat to Benfica, saying it was “natural” that they were in the current situation as the star-studded side were not stable enough to earn automatic qualification.
Mbappe told reporters: “The problem is that we are inconsistent in our play. We have to fix that. You can’t have one day (playing well) and another day not doing so. Champion teams don’t do that.”
“It’s natural for us to be in this situation. Benfica were better. Now we have two more playoff games to play and it hurts to have to play them. We wanted to have time in February to work on our game.”
Mbappe said he could not pinpoint a specific reason why Madrid played so badly against Benfica on January 28.
“I think it’s all a little bit of everything. I can’t say it’s just a matter of attitude, because if I say that only, people will think we came here without any motivation,” said the French superstar, who scored twice in the defeat.
UCL victory over Real Madrid sealed Benfica’s recent resurgence
Benfica were mired in the bottom 12 of the UCL ladder and were ultimately eliminated from the competition, but Trubin’s last gasp in fourth place improved their goal difference and moved them into the play-off spots.
The two-time champions’ remarkable recovery to qualify for the playoffs (they finished 24th in the final qualifying spot in the 36-team league) was encapsulated not only by Real’s defeat, but by winning three of their final four games after dropping the opening four.
When did Jose Mourinho become Real Madrid manager?
The former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United manager was appointed in May 2010 and was in charge of Real for three seasons.
This was followed by great success with Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, winning the Champions League with the former and the latter, as well as Chelsea’s first top-flight title in 40 years.
Mourinho, 63, only took over as Benfica manager in September, replacing Bruno Large following a slow start to the season.
What are Mourinho’s achievements and wins at Real Madrid?
Mourinho finished second behind Barcelona in his first season in charge, despite Cristiano Ronaldo leading La Liga’s scoring list with 40 goals that season.
Lionel Messi scored 50 goals the following season, but it was Real’s Portuguese pair who were smiling as Real won the league for the first time in three years – Barça won the crown each season.
Mourinho’s tenure at the Bernabéu ended the following season, when Barcelona won the title by 15 points. This remains the highest winning percentage in the history of the tournament.
How many times have Real Madrid and Benfica won the UEFA Champions League?
Real have won 15 titles in Europe’s top club competition, making them a record champion, with their last one coming in 2024.
Benfica have lifted the trophy twice so far, both times in consecutive years.
During what was considered to be Benfica’s golden era, Portuguese legend Eusebio was instrumental in the team’s victories over Barcelona in 1961 and Real Madrid in 1962.
A hat-trick from Hungary’s greatest export, Ferenc Puskas, could not save Real, as Benfica won 5-3, thanks to a double from Eusebio.
direct confrontation
Remarkably, this is only the fifth meeting between the two biggest clubs from Spain and Portugal.
The first meeting between the two clubs took place in the final in May 1962, with Benfica leading the match 3-1.
Benfica team news
Benfica’s attacking line, which caused so many problems in the last game against Madrid, is almost at full strength, with Vangelis Pavlidis ready to lead the line, and Norway international Andreas Schjelderup, who beat Los Blancos by two goals on January 28, also ready to play.
Mourinho will be without main midfielder Fredrik Aurnes due to injury.
Alexander Barr (knee), Samuel Soares (muscle strain) and Joao Veloso (shoulder) are all doubts for the first leg against Madrid.
Benfica’s expected starting lineup (4-2-3-1)
Trubin (GK). Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl. Barreiro, Barene chair. Prestiani, Schelderup, and Sudakov. Publidis
Real Madrid team news
Mbappe is ready to return for Real Madrid’s play-off match against Benfica after missing LaLiga matchday one against Real Sociedad at the weekend.
The acquisition of this season’s top scorer and man of the match is great news for manager Alvaro Arbeloa, but it does raise questions about whether the Whites will lose their balance too much if he and Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior line up in attack together.
The problem is compounded if Jude Bellingham is also available, but the England international has a foot injury and will not feature against Mourinho’s side in Lisbon.
Madrid will be without two starting pitchers, Asensio and Rodrigo, who were suspended as a direct result of the last Champions League game against Benfica.
Eder Militao will join Bellingham on the sideline as he recovers from a tendon injury.
Real Madrid’s projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1)
Courtois (GK). Carreras, Huisen, Rudiger, Alexander-Arnold. Camavinga, Choameni. Valverde, Vinicius, Guler. mbappe
When are the Champions League finals and finals played?
The two Round of 16 matches will be played on March 10-11 and March 17-18.
After the quarter-finals and semi-finals, this season’s Champions League final will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The match will take place on May 30th.
