Real Madrid vs Benfica Champions League preview, team news and prediction

After last week's controversy in Benfica, Real Madrid host Jose Mourinho's side with a place in the Champions League round of 16 up for grabs

Real Madrid host Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening for the decisive second leg of their Champions League knockout round playoff. Los Blancos hold a narrow advantage after a 1-0 win in Lisbon last week, with Vinicius Junior netting the only goal in the second half. However, the match was overshadowed by controversy, as Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racial abuse following his goal. The incident led to a 10-minute stoppage and has sparked an ongoing UEFA investigation, intensifying the atmosphere ahead of the return fixture.

Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will carefully assess Vinicius’s state of mind before finalizing his lineup, but expectations are that the Brazilian forward will feature from the start, eager to help Real Madrid secure their place in the last 16.

Real Madrid come into this clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Osasuna, which saw them slip to second in La Liga. They will need a significant improvement in performance to ensure progression in Europe. Historically, the Spanish giants have fared well against Portuguese opposition, winning five of their last six encounters. Should they advance, they will face either Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City in the next round.

Benfica, meanwhile, bounced back domestically with a 3-0 league victory over AFS on Saturday. However, head coach Jose Mourinho will be absent from the touchline in Madrid after being sent off during the first leg. Despite trailing in this tie, Benfica actually lead the all-time head-to-head with Real Madrid, with three wins to two, including their memorable 5-3 triumph in the 1962 European Cup final.

Recent history against Spanish clubs has not favored the Eagles, who have lost six of their last eight matches against La Liga teams, including consecutive defeats to Barcelona in last season’s round of 16. Overall, Benfica have lost 15 of their 27 encounters with Spanish opposition and have managed just two wins in 14 away games on Spanish soil, underlining the challenge they face at the Bernabéu.

While Benfica have won eight of their last 11 two-legged European ties, Real Madrid boast an even more formidable record, progressing in 22 of the last 23 European ties in which they won the first leg.

Real Madrid vs Benfica Team News

Vinicius is expected to start for Real Madrid on Wednesday night, aiming to score for the fifth consecutive match. Rodrygo remains unavailable due to suspension, having recently been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Jude Bellingham (hamstring), Eder Militao (hamstring), and Dani Ceballos (calf) are also ruled out. Dean Huijsen missed the game against Osasuna with a muscular issue and is a major doubt for this fixture.

Real Madrid are likely to line up with a narrow four-man midfield, featuring Federico Valverde and Arda Guler in the wider roles, while Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe are set to lead the attack.

For Benfica, Gianluca Prestianni is suspended by UEFA pending an ongoing investigation, so the 20-year-old will not feature at the Bernabeu. The only injury absentee for the visitors is Joao Veloso, who is sidelined with a shoulder problem; otherwise, Benfica have a fully fit squad for the trip to Madrid. Dodi Lukebakio could come into the side on the wing, and Richard Rios may be included in central midfield. Up front, Vangelis Pavlidis—who has scored 28 goals across all competitions this season—will continue to spearhead the attack.

Real Madrid vs Benfica Prediction

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