Benfica vs Real Madrid Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, quotes

Benfica host Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first legs on 17 February.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know?

Here we go again! Twenty days on from their Matchday 8 classic, Benfica host Real Madrid again in Lisbon. José Mourinho's men will surely hope for more of the same after a victory the Portuguese coach called "historic and important," while the hero on the night Anatoliy Trubin simply called it "unbelievable".

As for Real Madrid, Álvaro Arbeloa gave a frank assessment at full time. "They outplayed us," the 43-year-old said, "We have a lot to improve." Inspiration can perhaps be found in last season's play-off success against Manchester City, a stirring 6-3 aggregate victory featuring a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick in the second leg.

Possible line-ups

Benfica: Trubin; Dedić, Otamendi, Tomás Araújo, Dahl; Barrenechea, Barreiro; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Arda Güler, Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior

Form guide

Benfica

Form: WWDWWL (all competitions, most recent first)
Latest: Santa Clara 1-2 Benfica, 13/02, Portuguese Liga

Real Madrid

Form: WWWLWW
Latest: Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad, 14/02, Spanish La Liga

Views from the camps

José Mourinho, Benfica coach: "They [Madrid] are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, with ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League. [Anatoliy] Trubin won't be in the attack this time! I'm very used to these kinds of ties, I've been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result."

Vangelis Pavlidis, Benfica forward: "I think it's going to be a completely different game from the first one [in the league phase]. We have two finals. If we win, we continue; if we lose, we go home. I can't reveal our tactics... the manager has clear ideas about what he wants to do. I don't think we'll change much, but we may have other things to show."

Álvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid coach: "Benfica will be very good, and we must be ready. They have an incredible leader who tells them how to play, and that's their coach. Our goal isn't to take revenge on Benfica, our goal is to win the Champions League, and beating Benfica is a step in that direction."

Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid midfielder: "We have to do things right, and we won't change our routine based on the last game against Benfica. We have to attack and defend together. It's true that we suffered a lot here [three weeks ago], and we want to put that right."

Reporter's view

Carlos Machado, match reporter
It's often said that Real Madrid's pedigree emerges in the knockout phase, and it's time for the 15-time European champions to show it now. Madrid surely know what they are up against as Benfica are on a high at the moment and, despite being underdogs, clearly feel they have a chance. Benfica coach José Mourinho seems to have a knack for playing psychological games with Madrid, but Álvaro Arbeloa's side will be eager to show that the last game between these two great clubs was just a blip, while trusting that their quality will ultimately tell.