Real Madrid vs Benfica Champions League preview: where to watch, form, quotes
Article summary
Where to watch, form and quotes for this Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg.
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Real Madrid host Benfica in their UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg on 25 February.
Match at a glance
When: Wednesday 25 February (21:00 CET)
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
What: UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg
First leg: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid
Who: The 15-time winners against the two-time European champions
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here
Where to watch the game on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
What you need to know?
A moment of magic from Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior settled the first leg in Lisbon, the Brazilian winger curling in a stunning strike in the 50th minute to give Los Blancos a slender advantage heading into the return at the Bernabéu.
The sides now prepare for their third meeting in this season's competition with a win apiece, as Madrid aim to reach the round of 16 for an extraordinary 29th consecutive season and Benfica look to make it for the third time in the last five campaigns.
Form guide
Real Madrid
Form: LWWWWL
Latest: Osasuna 2-1 Real Madrid, 21/02, Spanish La Liga
Benfica
Form: WLWWDW
Latest: Benfica 3-0 AVS, 21/02, Portuguese Liga
Views from the camps
Álvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid coach: "Arda is a player with characteristics that help us a lot. He is capable of linking Vini and Kylian. He is special, different. He is becoming very important and his growth benefits us. These games make him grow and I am very happy and proud to have a guy like him."
Dodi Lukébakio, Benfica forward: "We want to compete. Our goal is clear. We want to qualify. And we've already shown that we're capable of winning. It's against a great team. We'll have to be very focused and give it our all. They're playing at home and we know they're very good in this competition. But we have shown that we are capable of winning. We will adopt the best possible strategy."
Reporter's view
Graham Hunter, match reporter: Álvaro Arbeloa's time in charge of Madrid has been brief but eventful. There have been setbacks domestically, but the performance he drew from his team in Lisbon probably counts as their most complete of the entire campaign. Match winner Vinícius Júnior now has five goals in his last four matches and looks ultra-confident, fast and ready to be a threat to Benfica once again. The Bernabéu was built for nights like this and, with the roof closed, the noise here will be seismic. As for Benfica, José Mourinho's side have the pace and experience to trouble Madrid on his first return to the Bernabéu as a coach in 13 years, but they will need to improve on their record of scoring just twice in four away games in the Champions League this season.