Champions League: Real Madrid CF host SL Benfica at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the return leg, with a spot in the last 16 on the line.
| Tournament: | Champions League |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid |
| Date: | 25.02.2026 |
| Time: | 20:00 GMT |
Real Madrid vs Benfica Form and Head to Head
The hosts, Real Madrid, come into this fixture on the back of a 2-1 away defeat to Osasuna in La Liga. Prior to that league setback, Los Blancos secured a vital 1-0 away victory against Benfica in the Champions League first leg.
Over their last six matches across all competitions, the Spanish giants have recorded three wins and three losses, showing a somewhat inconsistent run of form despite their strong position in Europe. Their Champions League campaign has seen them split results with their upcoming opponents, with a win and a loss in their last two European outings.
Benfica, meanwhile, will be buoyed by a convincing 3-0 home win against AVS Futebol SAD in Liga Portugal in their most recent fixture. This win came after a narrow 1-0 home loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
In their last six competitive games, the visitors have secured three wins, one draw, and two losses. The most recent encounter between these two storied clubs saw Real Madrid emerge victorious with a 1-0 win away at Benfica in the Champions League on February 17, 2026.
Looking at their competitive history in the Champions League, these sides have met four times. The record stands perfectly balanced, with Real Madrid securing one win, Benfica also claiming one victory, and two matches ending in a draw. This indicates a fiercely contested rivalry where neither team has managed to establish clear dominance.
Who is the Betting Favourite in Real Madrid vs Benfica?
Real Madrid are overwhelming favourites to beat Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu, with the latest odds implying roughly a 57% chance of a home win. Benfica are given around a 20% chance of forcing extra time or better in this Champions League playoff second leg, where Madrid hold a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead.
| Match Result | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 8/11 | BresBet |
| Benfica | 19/5 | Virgin Bet |
| Draw | 67/20 | 10Bet |
Odds last updated at 12:00PM Wednesday, 25th February.
Bet365
- Slick, clean interface
- Full suite of safer gambling options including profit/loss
- Market leading all customer offers across all sports
Real Madrid vs Benfica Team News
Real Madrid CF head into this one with real problems. Jude Bellingham, Dean Huijsen, Éder Militão and Dani Ceballos are all injured, while Rodrygo is suspended. That is a big chunk of quality missing, and it puts serious pressure on the likes of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé to carry the attack. Moreover, Mbappe himself is a serious doubt ahead of this important return leg.
Mbappé has been unstoppable in Europe with 13 Champions League goals, the most in the competition this season. Vinícius is not far behind in influence, scoring the first-leg winner and netting five times in his last four games. Arda Güler, who turns 21 on matchday, adds creativity. His 25 chances created in this Champions League campaign is the most ever recorded for a player under 21 since Opta began tracking the data.
Benfica are in a much healthier position. Only Veloso is ruled out, so the core of the side remains intact. Anatoliy Trubin will be key again after his heroics earlier in the competition. He is averaging more than four saves per game across his last three Champions League appearances. At the back, Nicolás Otamendi and António Silva must stay compact against Madrid’s firepower, while Rafa and Andreas Schjelderup will look to attack the spaces left behind.
Real Madrid vs Benfica Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Alaba, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Güler, Camavinga; Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Silva, Neto; Barrenechea, Ríos; Lukébakio, Rafa, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Lineups powered by WhoScored.
Real Madrid vs Benfica Match Prediction
Real Madrid CF carry a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg and are in a strong position. Their record in knockout rounds is remarkable, progressing from 22 of their last 23 Champions League ties after winning the opening match. Playing at the Bernabéu also helps, with six straight competitive home wins boosting confidence.
SL Benfica did beat Madrid 4-2 earlier in the campaign, but their away form in the Champions League has been inconsistent, with just one win in their last five away matches. They keep the ball well, completing about 82.8% of passes, and win roughly 11 aerial duels per game, but must avoid defensive lapses and start aggressively to shift momentum.
Overall, Madrid’s home advantage and star quality make them slight favourites, but Benfica should make it a competitive, closely fought game.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica
How to Watch Real Madrid vs Benfica?
Our EV Eagle has picked out five trending player stats for Real Madrid vs Benfica.
Find 100s more player stat trends in our Trends Tool, available to Oddschecker+ Premium subscribers.
There have been 11+ shots on target in 7 of Real Madrid's last 9 matches in Champions League.
Best odds of 10/11 at Virgin Bet while publishing.
Vinícius Júnior has attempted 3+ shots in 5 of their last 5 apps in Champions League.
Best odds of 19/20 at 10bet while publishing.
There have been 29+ shots taken in 6 of Real Madrid's last 9 matches in Champions League.
Best odds of 4/6 at Boyle Sports while publishing.
Real Madrid have had 7+ shots on target in 5 of their last 9 matches in Champions League.
Best odds of 5/4 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Dodi Lukébakio has been carded in 2 of their last 3 apps in Champions League.
Best odds of 16/5 at BetVictor while publishing.
Real Madrid vs Benfica Bet Builder Tip
Our Bet Builder Tip for Real Madrid vs Benfica is Over 4.5 Total Cards; Vinícius Júnior Over 3.5 Shots; Arda Güler Over 1.5 Shots; Draw at Half Time.
Best odds of 11/1 at bet365 while publishing.
Over 4.5 Total Cards
The Slovenian ref dishes out 4.19 cards per game on average, and these sides have form for chaos. Madrid racked up an average of five cards across their last two Benfica clashes, thanks to both sides aggresiveness dragging in fouls and midfield niggles.
With the events from the last match still fresh in memory, Madrid players and fans alike will be extra hyped for this clash. Expect a few stupid tackles as well, that increases the chances of both teams losing their cool.
Vinícius Júnior Over 3.5 Shots
Vinícius Júnior is a shooting beast in UCL, averaging 3.56 attempts per 90 over nine games (32 shots total). At home he goes wild with 4+ in seven of ten, especially with Mbappé sidelined. Last 10 shots: 5,6,3,2,3,3,5,3,3,5. He'll pepper the keeper relentlessly.
Arda Güler Over 1.5 Shots
Arda Güler has burst onto the scene, hitting 1.5+ shots in his last three UCL home starts while averaging 2.3 as Madrid's No.10. His long-range bangers (two screamers already) thrive against deep blocks, and he sits at 2.15 shots across all comps this term.
Draw at Half Time
Half-time draw rounds it off perfectly. Madrid build slowly at the Bernabéu, tied at the break in four of six recent UCL homes. Benfica master first-half damage control away (0-0 HT in three of six UCL road games), frustrating with a low block before tiring later.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builders with our exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
