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

Real Madrid hold a 1-0 advantage as they meet Benfica for the third successive UEFA Champions League game to settle their knockout phase play-off.

Madrid were beaten 4-2 in Lisbon on Matchday 8 but seized the advantage on their return for the first leg on 17 February, Vinícius Júnior (50) scoring the only goal.

The Spanish side had finished ninth in the league phase standings on 15 points (W5 L3). Their Portuguese opponents had snatched 24th position – the final qualifying slot – on nine points (W3 L5) thanks to a 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin against nine-man Madrid on 28 January.

Last match

The first leg was only the teams' fifth meeting, and Madrid's second win to Benfica's three. The Portuguese side have scored 15 goals while conceding nine.

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.

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.

Madrid have won five of their last six fixtures against Portuguese opponents (L1); Matchday 8 is their only defeat in 12 games (W9 D2).

The Merengues are also unbeaten at home against Portuguese visitors (W10 D1).

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 have lost six of their last eight games against Spanish clubs (W2), including home (0-1) and away (1-3) to Barcelona in last season's round of 16.

Matchday 8 was one of only four wins in Benfica's last 27 matches against Liga teams (D8 L15).

Benfica have won only two of their 14 away matches against Spanish clubs (D3 L9).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

The Spanish side have reached the last 16 every year since 1996/97.

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

Madrid have lost only three of their last 24 home Champions League matches (W18 D3).

The Merengues have won 22 of the last 23 European ties in which they won the first leg – and 38 of the 40 in which they recorded an away first-leg win.

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 lost eight of their last 11 matches in the Champions League proper (W3).

The Eagles have won only one of the eight European ties in which they lost the home first leg – against Dinamo București in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup first round (0-1 h, 2-0 a).