7M Preview: Benfica vs Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Jose Mourinho guides his Benfica team into a crucial showdown against his former side Real Madrid as the two clubs face off at Estadio da Luz this Wednesday in the Champions League's eighth league-phase matchday.

The Portuguese side currently occupy 29th position in the 36-team standings, trailing the final qualification berth by two points. Their Spanish guests sit third but have not yet secured a top-eight finish, with a mere two-point gap separating them from 15th-placed Juventus.

Match Preview
Benfica started their league-phase journey poorly, suffering defeats in each of their first four matches. Back-to-back 2-0 wins against Ajax and Napoli briefly rekindled their hopes of reaching the knockout playoffs.

That momentum was abruptly halted last week, however, as the Eagles fell to a 2-0 away defeat at Juventus—a result that threw their top-24 aspirations into fresh doubt.

While their fate is no longer entirely in their own hands, Benfica can still mathematically secure one of the last six playoff spots. Achieving this, though, would require positive results elsewhere coupled with a memorable triumph over the 15-time European champions.

The Portuguese powerhouse can at least take heart from past encounters, having won this trophy twice. One of those victories came against Madrid in the 1961-62 final. Furthermore, a 5-1 win in their sole previous meeting at Da Luz gives the Eagles two wins from three fixtures in this rivalry.

Benfica approach Wednesday's match enjoying robust home form, having sealed a fourth straight win in front of their supporters with a 4-0 weekend thrashing of Estrela Amadora. This result leaves them third in the Primeira Liga, ten points off the top.

That reaction was welcome for Mourinho's squad, which had lost three of its previous four outings—a sequence that saw them knocked out of both the Taca da Liga and Taca de Portugal—making European advancement a potential avenue for much-needed solace.

Madrid have also faced instability lately, starting with a Super Cup final loss to arch-rivals Barcelona that prompted the departure of Xabi Alonso. Acting coach Alvaro Arbeloa then oversaw a disappointing Copa del Rey elimination against second-tier Albacete in his first game at the helm.

Since then, Los Blancos have won each of their last three matches in all competitions. This includes a 2-0 weekend away victory at Villarreal, where a Kylian Mbappe double brought them to within one point of La Liga's summit.

The French striker also netted twice four days earlier in a 6-1 Champions League win over Monaco, taking his tally in the competition to 11 goals. This equals Cristiano Ronaldo's 2015-16 record for the most goals in a single group-stage or league-phase campaign.

Having taken full points from five of their seven matches in the competition this season (L2), Madrid are one win away from guaranteeing direct qualification to the last 16. They will be confident of success, having won eight of their last ten UEFA meetings with Portuguese opposition, including four consecutive away wins.

Team News
Benfica continue to be without Alexander Bah (knee), Samuel Soares (muscle), Dodi Lukebakio (ankle), and Henrique Araujo (muscle). Richard Rios is also expected to miss a fourth consecutive match due to a fitness concern.

January signing Sidny Lopes Cabral, who scored in the league win over Estrela Amadora, is ineligible to play. Rafa Silva is also unavailable for the same reason, despite making his debut from the bench in that match.

Wednesday's match represents a landmark for veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, who is poised to become only the third Argentine to make 100 Champions League appearances, following Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.

Vangelis Pavlidis ended a three-game scoreless run with a brace at the weekend and will aim to bring that form into this fixture.

For Madrid, Mbappe arrives in scintillating form, having scored in each of his last three games for a total of five goals in that span.

The visitors will still be missing Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Eder Militao (hamstring), Ferland Mendy (hamstring), and Antonio Rudiger (knee).

Aurelien Tchouameni rejoins the squad after serving a suspension in the league win over Villarreal, while Alvaro Carreras is in line to face his former club following his switch from Benfica to Madrid last summer.

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Aursnes, Barrenechea; Prestianni, Barreiro, Sudakov; Pavlidis

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius

We say: Benfica 1-3 Real Madrid
Despite Benfica's historical success in this specific fixture, they have generally found it difficult against Spanish opposition, managing just three wins in their last 25 UEFA matches against teams from Spain (L14).

With Madrid's only Champions League defeats this term coming against Manchester City and Liverpool, Los Blancos should still possess enough to overcome the Eagles, who lack the quality of those elite opponents.