Jose Mourinho’s SL Benfica will square up with European giants Real Madrid in a must-win encounter on the final matchday at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday.

Real Madrid are almost certain to secure a top-eight spot, but they will be looking to finish as high as possible to get an easier route in the knockouts; as a result, expect them to go all out against Benfica in this away fixture.

The home team are 29th on the UEFA Champions League table with six points in their seven outings. The Portuguese giants are two points behind 24th-placed Olympiacos, and they are desperate for a win to keep their hopes of securing a place in the knockout stage.

After a run of three straight defeats, Benfica secured consecutive wins in the Champions League before suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Juventus last time out. Jose Mourinho’s team will go all out for all three points, but taking down Los Blancos is not going to be easy.

Meanwhile, the visitors are third on the table with 15 points in their seven outings, thanks to five wins and two defeats. After a run of disappointing results and the sacking of Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa has steadied the ship, and they have been in fine form of late.

Real Madrid secured a smashing 6-1 win over AS Monaco in their last Champions League outing, and they are heading into this one on the back of a 2-0 win over Villarreal. Los Blancos are certainly favourites to win this fixture. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.

Team News & Tactics

SL Benfica

The home team will be without the services of Alexander Bah (knee), Samuel Soares (muscle), Dodi Lukebakio (ankle), and Henrique Araujo (muscle), while Richard Rios is struggling to regain full-fitness. January signings Rafa Silva and Sidny Lopes Cabral cannot feature until the knockout phase.

Benfica will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Anatoliy Trubin will take charge between the sticks. Amar Dedic and Samuel Dahl will feature as the full-backs, while Nicolas Otamendi will pair up with Tomas Araujo in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Fredrik Aursnes and Enzo Barrenechea will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will shield the backline and look to ensure the Real Madrid midfielders do not run the show.

Leonardo Barreiro will take up the number ten role, while Gianluca Prestianni and Georgiy Sudakov will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Finally, Vangelis Pavlidis will lead the line for Benfica against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Aursnes, Barrenechea; Prestianni, Barreiro, Sudakov; Pavlidis

Real Madrid

Real Madrid remain without the services of Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Eder Militao (hamstring), Ferland Mendy (hamstring), and Antonio Rudiger (knee). Meanwhile, the visitors do have a boost as Aurelien Tchouameni is back after serving a suspension.

Los Blancos will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Federico Valverde and former Benfica sensation Alvaro Carreras will be the full-backs for the team in white. In the heart of the defence, Raul Asencio will partner with Dean Huijsen.

As for the midfield unit, Tchouameni will return to the XI to take up the holding role in the middle of the pitch. He will receive significant support from Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler. Finally, Franco Mastantuono and Vinicius Junior are expected to feature on the flanks, while Kylian Mbappe will spearhead the Real Madrid attack against SL Benfica on Wednesday.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

Key Stats

• The two teams have faced each other on three occasions in the past, but this will be the first meeting between the two since 1965. Real Madrid have won two out of those three meetings.
• Benfica have only won three of their last 25 matches against Spanish opposition.
• Los Blancos have the second-best attack in the UEFA Champions League this season, scoring 19 goals in seven outings.
• Jose Mourinho’s team have failed to find the back of the net in four out of their last six Champions League games.
• Real Madrid have recorded the most direct attacks (28) and goals from direct attacks (4) of any team in the UEFA Champions League this season. Eight of those came against AS Monaco last time out (including one ending in a goal); their most in a match in the 2025/26 edition.

Player to Watch

Kylian Mbappe

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Mbappe has been a force to reckon with this season. The French international has by far been the best forward in all of Europe, having bagged 34 goals and five assists in his 28 outings. He has found the back of the net on each of his last three outings.

Given the kind of form he has been in, Mbappe will certainly have a big say on the end result of this fixture. It won’t be much of a surprise if he ends up adding to his tally in this fixture.

Prediction

SL Benfica 0-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid will approach this final group-stage fixture with confidence, knowing their place in the top eight is almost secured but still keen to finish as high as possible. With their attacking firepower in red-hot form, Los Blancos should be able to control the tempo and create regular openings against a Benfica side that has struggled for consistency in Europe.

Benfica, however, have everything to play for and are likely to adopt an aggressive approach under Jose Mourinho, pushing numbers forward in search of an early breakthrough. While that could make the contest competitive for spells, Real Madrid’s quality and efficiency in the final third should eventually prove decisive in a tightly contested encounter. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-0 win for the away team.