Benfica vs Real Madrid — Champions League Playoff First Leg

Resume Check

Benfica
• League Position (Portugal): 2nd
• Last Five (All Competitions):
• W vs Santa Clara (2–1)
• W vs Alverca (2–1)
• D vs Tondela (0–0)
• W vs Real Madrid (4–2, UCL)
• W vs Estrela (4–0)

Benfica are unbeaten in their last five and have scored 12 goals in that stretch. They’ve been aggressive at home and confident in big moments.

Real Madrid
• League Position (Spain): 1st
• Last Five (All Competitions):
• W vs Real Sociedad (4–1)
• W vs Valencia (2–0)
• W vs Rayo Vallecano (2–1)
• L vs Benfica (2–4, UCL)
• W vs Villarreal (2–0)

Madrid have won four of five and are scoring freely, but that Benfica loss remains fresh.

Last Head-to-Head
• Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid

Players to Watch

Benfica
• Vangelis Pavlidis (2 UCL goals) — Mobile and clinical inside the box.
• Leandro Barreiro (2 goals) — Late-arriving midfielder who crashes the area.
• Fredrik Aursnes (2 assists) — The creative connector who links phases.

Real Madrid
• Kylian Mbappé (13 goals) — The leading scorer and most dangerous player in the competition.
• Jude Bellingham (2 goals, 1 assist) — Controls tempo and arrives late.
• Vinícius Júnior (1 goal, 4 assists) — Devastating in transition.

How Benfica Win

• Press Madrid’s buildup and disrupt rhythm.
• Attack wide channels and isolate Madrid fullbacks.
• Turn the match chaotic and high-tempo.

How Real Madrid Win

• Control possession and slow the game down.
• Find Mbappé early in transition.
• Punish defensive lapses with ruthless finishing.

Prediction: Benfica are fearless at home and already showed they can score on Madrid. But knockout football rewards experience, and Real Madrid rarely make the same mistake twice. Expect a more controlled performance from Los Blancos with Mbappé decisive on the counter.

Real Madrid 2, Benfica 1