Overview
- The first leg is tonight at Estádio da Luz, opening a two-match playoff for a place in the Champions League round of 16, with the return set for February 25 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
- Live coverage is confirmed on ESPN and Disney+ across much of Latin America, Movistar+ in Spain, and TUDN/Paramount+/UniMás in the United States, with TNT Sports/Max carrying the game in Mexico and Brazil.
- Real Madrid are without Éder Militao for approximately three to four months due to a proximal hamstring tendon rupture and will also miss Jude Bellingham with a left semitendinosus injury.
- Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio are suspended for the first leg after red cards in the prior meeting, while coach Álvaro Arbeloa says Kylian Mbappé is available for selection.
- The matchup follows Benfica’s dramatic 4-2 win in January sealed by a stoppage-time header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and features José Mourinho facing his former club.