- Real Madrid have won 3 of their last 5 games, including a 6-1 win over AS Monaco in the Champions League.
- Benfica have won 2 and lost 3 of their last 5 matches.
- Real Madrid have won 2 and lost 1 of their 3 away games in the competition.
Tactical masterclass on the cards
Two of the most famous managers in the world are currently in charge of these sides with Jose Mourinho returning to the home of Benfica in September 2025 and former Real Madrid and Spain right-back Álvaro Arbeloa recently being promoted to manager of Real.
The Portuguese tactician has set Benfica up in a pragmatic and often counter-attacking manner, sitting deep in a compact mid-block and looking to catch teams off-guard on the counter or from set pieces, while Arbeloa has promised unity, intensity and a fast-paced, vertical style of play.
In this clash of contrasting styles, it will be interesting to see how Mourinho’s pragmatism fares against Arbeloa’s energy, with Arbeloa looking to press high up the pitch while Mourinho prefers to sit deeper. The visitors could be successful in disrupting Benfica’s shape and forcing mistakes by pressing high and moving the ball quickly in transition.
Madrid have the firepower to win
Real Madrid have 15 points from 7 games in the UEFA Champions League 2025-2026 and sit third in the table, while Benfica are 29th with 6 points from 7. The visitors are the favourites at 67/100, but Benfica are a good price at 69/20.
Over 2.5 goals is an extremely short price at 1/2, but there is plenty of value to be found in the goal markets, where both teams to score and a Madrid win seems the most likely outcome, given their superior form and firepower.
Vangelis Pavlidis is in exceptional form, scoring 6 goals in his last 5 appearances for Benfica, while Kylian Mbappé is the danger man for Madrid, having scored 11 times in 6 Champions League appearances this term. He has also bagged 3 goals in his last 5, making him a more tempting price than the frontline duo of Pavlidis and Leandro Barreiro, who has 2 goals in 6 appearances for the Eagles.
Benfica could get a goal
Real Madrid have won 2 and lost 1 of their 3 games on the road, conceding 4 goals. Benfica have won just 1 and lost 2 of their 3 home matches this season, averaging 1.33 goals per home match. The match could be edged by Madrid, but Mourinho could make it interesting in what should be a tense tactical clash.
Georgiy Sudakov has provided a creative spark for Benfica in Europe, providing 2 assists in 7 appearances, while Leandro Barreiro has been their biggest goal threat in midfield with 2 goals in 6 games.
