The UEFA Champions League Round of 32 tie in Lisbon sees Benfica host Real Madrid on 17 February 2026, with kickoff at 20:00 UTC. Benfica arrive 24th in the overall standings with 9 points, while Real Madrid sit 9th on 15 points, underlining a clash between a dangerous outsider and an established contender.
Benfica Availability
José Mourinho, who returned to the Benfica bench in late 2025, faces a tactical challenge due to several absences. The most significant blow is the loss of midfield engine Fredrik Aursnes, who is ruled out with an unspecified injury. Defender Alexander Bah (knee) and young talent João Veloso (shoulder) are also unlikely to feature.
While the depth is tested, Mourinho still has a potent frontline led by Vangelis Pavlidis and Andreas Schjelderup, the latter of whom scored twice against Madrid just weeks ago. With creative support from Georgiy Sudakov, the "Eagles" will rely on their collective discipline to repeat their recent success at the Estádio da Luz.
Real Madrid Availability
Real Madrid is also significantly depleted. Álvaro Arbeloa, who took charge in January 2026 following Xabi Alonso's departure, must navigate this trip without Jude Bellingham (hamstring) and Éder Militão (tendon injury).
The "Slippery" disciplinary situation from their last meeting also haunts the squad: both Rodrygo and defender Raúl Asencio are suspended following red cards in the 4-2 loss. Despite these gaps, the 15-time champions remain dangerous. Kylian Mbappé (13 goals) and Vinícius Júnior are fully fit, with Arda Güler expected to take a central creative role to fill the void left by Bellingham.
Impact Summary
Both sides are missing core pillars, but the narratives differ. Benfica is missing its tactical "glue" in Aursnes, forcing Mourinho to adapt his midfield structure. Real Madrid, meanwhile, is missing defensive stability and secondary scoring options due to suspensions. However, with Mbappé in record-breaking form, the visitors retain enough firepower to aim for revenge in Lisbon.
