JUMP TO:

Real Madrid and Benfica look to settle the score in their Champions League knockout playoff matchup as they contest the second leg from the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The Spanish giants hold a slim 1-0 lead from the first leg in Portugal, where Vinicius Jr’s delightful goal was overshadowed by racial abuse allegations against Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica in the aftermath.

As a result, Prestianni will not take part today, and neither will Benfica boss Jose Mourinho who will be relegated to the stands of his old stomping grounds after being sent off in the first leg.

Madrid, for their part, are missing talisman Kylian Mbappe who is out for today’s match with a knee injury.

The winner of this match will take on either Manchester City or Sporting CP in the Round of 16, while the loser will be eliminated from Europe.

The Sporting News is following the Real Madrid vs. Benfica match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

Real Madrid vs. Benfica live score

Location: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Madrid, Spain)
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SLV)

Keep track of every game and every goal via SN’s live Premier League scoreboard

Starting lineups:

Real Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Courtois (GK) — 12. Alexander-Arnold, 22. Rudiger, 17. Asencio, 18. Carreras — 8. Valverde, 15. Guler, 14. Tchouameni, 6. Camavinga — 16. G. Garcia, 7. Vinicius Jr.

Benfica (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Trubin (GK) — 17. Dedic, 44. Araujo, 30. Otamendi, 26. Dahl — 18. Barreiro, 8. Aursnes — 20. Rios, 27. Silva, 21. Schjelderup — 14. Pavlidis.

Real Madrid vs. Benfica live updates, highlights from second leg

23rd min: Former Bodo/Glimt youth product Andreas Schjelderup has terrorized Real Madrid today. His latest foray into the attacking third sees a fizzed cross along the face of goal that is extremely dangerous, but goes unpunished as it skitters clear of all Benfica attackers.

He’s having quite the game so far!

16th min: GOAL! REAL MADRID! AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI WITH THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE!

The opener from Benfica seems to have jolted Real Madrid to life, and after a giveaway on the left Benfica flank, Fede Valverde feeds the ball to the middle of goal from 16 yards out where the French midfielder rifles the ball expertly into the bottom-right corner!

Tchouameni’s first-ever Champions League goal for Real Madrid!

14th min: GOAL! BENFICA! RAFA SILVA STRIKES FIRST AND LEVELS UP THIS TIE!

It’s shocking defense from Real Madrid, as Raul Asencio nearly turns the ball in his own net sliding in to block the cross by Pavlidis, and while Courtois makes a stunning save on the friendly fire, it leaves him unable to stop Silva from following it up with the finishing touch!

GAME ON!

5th min: Benfica have looked bright through the opening five minutes, making an umber of forays into the attacking third on both wings.

Kickoff: They’re under way at the Bernabeu! On a potentially explosive evening, who will prevail through to the Round of 16?

Real Madrid vs. Benfica: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: Kickoff is right around the corner! How will this match play out? Take a look at our comprehensive preview here!

READ MORE: A full preview of Real Madrid vs. Benfica in the Champions League

30 mins to kickoff: Real Madrid have struggled some in Kylian Mbappe’s absence, but not from a goal scoring perspective. Madrid have scored multiple goals in all but one of the five matches, the one being the 2-1 defeat to Man City in the Champions League league phase.

Largely, the defeat to Albacete and narrow victory over Atleti were down to poor defending than poor attacking. Can they manage without their superstar today? And how long will he be out?

Dean Huijsen’s absence may be the more decisive issue for Madrid…

45 mins to kickoff: After Bodo/Glimt pulled off an incredible upset yesterday, Benfica are trusting their attacking setup to two Norwegians, with Andreas Schjelderup on one side and Fredrik Aursnes handling things out on the right. Norway are going to be a force at the World Cup, and these two are hoping to add to their resumes ahead of this summer’s tournament.

1 hour to kickoff: Thanks to his late dismissal for dissent in the first leg, Jose Mourinho has used a loophole to slither his way out of having to answer questions about his deplorable reaction to Vinicius Jr’s racial abuse allegations after the first leg.

Mourinho used every classic excuse in the book to back Prestianni for his potentially disgusting actions, without any shame.

Today, he’ll be watching from the stands while assistant Joao Tralhao takes charge of the team.

🚨 João Tralhão (Jose Mourinho’s assistant): “Benfica hope it will be a fair match and that they respect the equal criteria that we felt was different at home.”

“There are players who shouldn’t be on the field tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/JFhP6vnXV1

— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) February 24, 2026

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Lineups are in! For Real Madrid, Gonzalo Garcia takes over for an injured Kylian Mbappe at the head of the attack, and Raul Asencio starts at the back for an injured Dean Huijsen, but everyone else retains their place in the XI from the first leg. Trent Alexander-Arnold is at right-back, while Dani Carvajal is sent to the bench.

For Benfica, Prestianni is replaced not by Dodi Ludebakio, but instead by Richard Rios who takes over in midfield. Rafa Silva somehow keeps his place, with Georgiy Sudakov unlucky to see the bench once again.

1 hour 30 mins to kickoff: Welcome to coverage of the second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica at the Bernabeu!

There is palpable tension between the sides in this upcoming match. The racial abuse allegations from the first leg made for an awkward finish to the match, but it is expected to have a different feel today, with there being more animosity than nervousness around the 90 minutes in the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid vs. Benfica kick off time

This Champions League knockout playoff second leg kicks off from the Bernabeu on Wednesday, February 25 at 9 p.m. local time in Madrid, Spain. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

Real Madrid vs. Benfica lineups, team news

Real Madrid are without Kylian Mbappe who will sit out this match due to knee soreness, something he’s been dealing with the last few months. Rodrygo has returned to training from his hamstring injury but is serving the final match of his red card suspension and so he will not be available either.

Dean Huijsen has picked up a calf injury and reportedly will not play, while Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Ceballos are all out for another few weeks.

Real Madrid starting lineup (4-4-2): Courtois (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Asensio, Carreras — Valverde, Guler, Tchouameni, Camavinga — G. Garcia, Vinicius Jr.

Real Madrid subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

The biggest call for Jose Mourinho and acting Benfica boss for this match Joao Tralhao will be at the No. 10, where Rafa Silva was ineffective in the first leg and could be replaced by Georgiy Sudakov who performed well in the league phase win over Real Madrid.

Dodi Ludebakio will likely be the one to come in for the suspended Gianluca Prestianni who has been provisionally banned by UEFA while they investigate the racist abuse allegations from the first leg.

Benfica starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Trubin (GK) — Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl — Barreiro, Aursnes — Rios, R. Silva, Schjelderup — Pavlidis.

Benfica subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

Real Madrid vs. Benfica live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions: