Dramatic Qualification Sets Stage for Rematch

Real Madrid will travel to Lisbon to face Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League knockout playoff on Tuesday. Benfica secured their spot in the playoffs in a stunning fashion, fueled by a dramatic late goal.

Benfica previously defeated Real Madrid 4-2 during the league phase, a result that pleased coach Jose Mourinho, given his extensive knowledge of the Spanish club.

Referee Confirmed: Letexier to Officiate

UEFA has appointed French referee François Letexier to oversee the match at the Estadio da Luz. This will be Letexier’s sixth Champions League match involving Real Madrid. His compatriot, Jérôme Brisard, will be on VAR duty.

Real Madrid’s record with Letexier as the head referee stands at two wins, one draw, and two losses. Their last encounter under his guidance was a 1-2 loss to Arsenal at the Bernabéu in April 2025.

Team Updates and Recent Form

Real Madrid enters the match following a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in LaLiga. However, Kylian Mbappé was rested due to a lingering left knee injury, and his availability for the Benfica clash remains uncertain.

Mourinho’s Benfica defeated Santa Clara 1-2 on Friday and currently sits third in the Portuguese league with 52 points, five points behind league leader Porto.

A Goal to Remember

“A fantastic goal, a historic goal, a goal that nearly brought the whole stadium down – and I think it was very deserved for us,”

Jose Mourinho

Benfica’s qualification was secured by a remarkable 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin, a moment that left even Mourinho initially confused about its implications.

“When I made the last changes, [Franjo] Ivanovic and [Antonio] Silva, I was told [the scoreline] is enough, so let’s close the door,”

Jose Mourinho

Mourinho initially believed a 3-2 scoreline would be sufficient for advancement before learning his team needed one more goal.

“Before, I didn’t understand what we needed,”

Anatoly Trubin