Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg: Benfica vs Real Madrid facts

Less than three weeks after a thrilling Matchday 8 encounter, Benfica and Real Madrid meet again in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs.

A 98th-minute header from home goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin gave the Portuguese side a 4-2 win against nine-man Madrid at the Estádio do SL Benfica on 28 January and 24th position – the final qualifying slot – in the league phase table on nine points (W3 L5).

Madrid were ninth in the standings on 15 points (W5 L3).

Last match

On Matchday 8 Benfica recovered from a Kylian Mbappé opener (30) thanks to two goals from Andreas Schjelderup (36, 54) either side of Vangelis Pavlidis' penalty (45+5). Mbappé's second of the game (58) made it 3-2 but, after Raúl Asencio (90+2) and Rodrygo (90+6) had been sent off, Trubin delivered the telling blow.

That was only the teams' fourth meeting and Benfica's third victory to Madrid's one, the Portuguese side scoring 15 goals while conceding eight.

The Eagles retained the European Cup with a 5-3 defeat of Madrid in the 1962 final in Amsterdam, Eusébio scoring twice as Madrid's Ferenc Puskás hit a hat-trick in a losing cause.

Benfica also prevailed 6-3 on aggregate in the 1964/65 quarter finals, winning 5-1 in Lisbon before a 2-1 loss in Madrid; Eusébio scored twice in the first leg and once in the second.

Before this season's win against Madrid, Benfica had lost three successive games – and five of six (W1) – against Spanish clubs, including home (0-1) and away (1-3) to Barcelona in last season's round of 16.

Matchday 8 was only Benfica's fourth win in 26 matches against Liga teams (D8 L14).

Last season's defeat by Barcelona was Benfica's fifth successive two-legged loss against Spanish opposition; their last victory came in the 1982/83 UEFA Cup first round, a 4-2 aggregate defeat of Real Betis.

Before losing at Benfica Madrid had won four successive games against Portuguese opponents and were unbeaten in ten (W8 D2), winning four in a row in Portugal.

This is Madrid's first Champions League knockout tie against a Portuguese club and a first European contest since beating Sporting CP on away goals in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup first round. That made their two-legged knockout record against Portuguese sides W3 L1, with victories in the last three.

Benfica

This is Benfica's 45th European Cup campaign, behind only Madrid's 56. This is their 20th appearance in the Champions League proper and a 15th in the last 16 seasons.

In 2024/25 the Eagles were 16th in the league phase (W4 D1 L3), beating Monaco 4-3 in the knockout phase play-offs (1-0 a, 3-3 h) before the last-16 loss to Barcelona.

Real Madrid

Madrid are in the Champions League proper for the 30th time, a competition record they share with Barcelona. They have now qualified for the knockout rounds in all 30 campaigns.

A team coached by Carlo Ancelotti were 11th in last season's league phase (W5 L3), eventually losing 1-5 on aggregate to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Key stats

José Mourinho was Madrid coach from May 2010 to June 2013, winning the Copa del Rey in 2010/11 and La Liga the following season.

Defender Álvaro Carreras signed for Madrid last summer from Benfica, where he made 68 appearances, scoring five goals, from January 2024.

Benfica are in the knockout phase for the fourth time in five seasons and the ninth overall.

The Portuguese side have won eight of their last 11 two-legged European ties.

Benfica have won three of their last four Champions League matches (L1) and four of the six at home this season (L2).

Madrid are in the knockout stage for the 29th season in succession. They beat Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate at this stage last season (3-2 a, 3-1 h).

Madrid have won ten of their last 12 two-legged Champions League ties.

Mbappé scored 13 goals in this season's league phase – a new competition record – from just seven appearances, including eight in his last three.