Real Madrid hosts Benfica this Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium for the second leg of the Champions League play-off. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM, Paris and Yaoundé time.
After their 1-0 victory in Lisbon in the first leg, Real Madrid approaches this match with a slight advantage. However, qualification for the Champions League Round of 16 is far from guaranteed. The first leg was marked by controversy, following accusations of racism made by Vinícius Júnior against Gianluca Prestianni. The latter has been provisionally suspended by UEFA.
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa will have to deal with numerous absences. Kylian Mbappé is out due to a knee injury sustained in training. Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Éder Militão and Dean Huijsen are also unavailable. Rodrygo is suspended. Despite these absences, the Madrid team is counting on the support of its fans to win at home.
Fans can follow the match live on Canal + Sport and Super Sport channels in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK, the broadcast will be provided by TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7:00 PM (GMT). Subscribers can also follow the match via streaming on the Discovery+ app and website. Real Madrid, coming off a 2-1 defeat to Osasuna in La Liga, will have to show a different side to secure qualification.
