Real Madrid vs Benfica – News and Probable Lineups

Real Madrid will host Benfica at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night for the second leg of their Champions League knockout round playoff.

Los Blancos hold a narrow advantage in the tie, having secured a 1-0 win in the first leg last week, with Vinicius Junior netting the sole goal of the match.

Match overview

The score from the first leg was 1-0, with Vinicius scoring the only goal in the second half, but the situation is much more complex, as there has been significant fallout that continues to unfold, increasing the tension as the teams approach this fixture.

Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racial abuse right after he scored, resulting in a 10-minute delay before the match resumed, and UEFA is still investigating the incident, which became a focal point in post-match conversations.

Real Madrid’s head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will ensure Vinicius is mentally prepared before making a decision about his selection for Wednesday, however, it is anticipated that the forward will start, eager to assist the capital giants in completing the task.

Real Madrid comes into this match following a 2-1 defeat against Osasuna, leaving them in second place in the La Liga standings, and they will need to significantly improve their performance in order to advance in the Champions League.

The Madrid giants have triumphed in five of their last six encounters against Portuguese teams, and should they progress to the last-16 stage of the tournament, they will face either Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City.

Benfica managed to bounce back to winning form in the league on Saturday, defeating AFS 3-0, although their head coach Jose Mourinho will not be present on the sidelines at the Bernabeu for this fixture due to being sent off in the first leg.

The Eagles actually hold a favorable all-time record against Real Madrid, having won three matches and lost twice, including a memorable 5-3 victory in the 1962 European Cup final.

Benfica has suffered six defeats in their last eight fixtures against Spanish teams, which includes losses home and away against Barcelona in last season’s round of 16, along with 15 defeats across their previous 27 encounters with La Liga sides.

Additionally, the Portuguese club has only managed two wins from their 14 away games against Spanish opponents, highlighting the challenge they face on Wednesday evening.

Despite this, Benfica has secured eight wins from their last 11 two-legged European ties, although Real Madrid has emerged victorious in 22 of their last 23 European ties in which they claimed victory in the first leg.

Real Madrid Champions League form:

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Real Madrid form (all competitions):

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Benfica Champions League form:

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Benfica form (all competitions):

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Team News

Vinicius is expected to be included in the Real Madrid starting XI on Wednesday night, aiming to score in his fifth consecutive match.

Rodrygo, who recently dealt with a hamstring issue, will be unavailable for selection due to suspension, while Jude Bellingham (hamstring), Eder Militao (hamstring), and Dani Ceballos (calf) are also ruled out.

Dean Huijsen was absent for the match against Osasuna owing to a muscular problem, and the Espanha international remains a significant doubt for this fixture.

A narrow four-man midfield is likely to feature Federico Valverde and Arda Guler in the wide roles, with Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe set to lead as the front two.

As for Benfica, Prestianni is anticipated to start on the bench this Wednesday evening.

The visitors are only missing one player, as Joao Veloso is sidelined because of a shoulder injury; otherwise, Benfica is in fantastic shape for the match in Madrid.

Dodi Lukebakio may be introduced in a wide position, and there could also be space in midfield for Richard Rios.

Vangelis Pavlidis has been in fine form, scoring 28 times across all competitions this season, and the 27-year-old will continue to contribute in the attacking phase.

Real Madrid probable starting XI:

Courtesy; Alexander-Arnold, Asensio, Rudiger, Racing; Valverde, Yellows, Tchouameni, Yellows; Mbappe, Vinicius

Benfica probable starting XI:

Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Aursnes; Lukebachio, Rafa, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Benfica has a challenging task ahead on Wednesday night, and it is difficult to support the Portuguese side. While Real Madrid isn’t operating at their peak currently, Los Blancos are expected to possess enough strength to secure their advancement to the last-16 stage of the tournament.