Real Madrid enters the field this Wednesday, February 25, 2026, to decide whether to remain in Uefa Champions League against Benfica, in Estádio Santiago Bernabéu. The Spanish team confirmed that they will not be able to count on striker Kylian Mbappé, who has a persistent injury to his left knee and is missing from the squad led by Álvaro Arbeloa. Além of the French star, the merengue medical department is working intensely to recover five other players who are out of this decisive match in the playoffs of the European competition. Mbappé’s absence comes at a critical moment in the season, after the player played for 90 minutes in the recent defeat to Osasuna in LaLiga.
The clinical situation of the number 10 requires specific care to avoid worsening the recurring pain that has accompanied him since the beginning of the year. The technical committee’s planning foresees that the attacker will only return to the pitch on March 7th, in a commitment valid for the national championship against Celta of Vigo. Esta is not the first time that the physical problem has sidelined the athlete in 2026, as he has already been absent from important clashes against Atlético of Madrid, Real Betis and Real Sociedad. Recent history shows that the player has carried out several training sessions in isolation from the rest of the group in recent weeks.
📋✅ Nossa squad list!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇧🇷🇵🇹 (@realmadridpt)February 25, 2026
🆚@SLBenfica pic.twitter.com/VV1XV4QCxL
Confirmed absences and list of those related to the confrontation
Real Madrid’s list of absences for the duel in Madrid is extensive and affects several sectors of the field, from defense to attack. Além of Mbappé, players Dean Huijsen, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Dani Ceballos and Essa sequence of injuries forces the coach Álvaro Arbeloa to look for tactical alternatives within the available squad to maintain the team’s balance. The coach will have to bet on the depth of the bench to make up for the lack of fundamental pieces in the starting lineup.
- Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin and Fran González.
- Defenders: Carvajal, Alaba, Trent, Asencio, Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger and
- Midfielders: Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Cestero, Manuel Ángel,
- Forwards: Vinicius Jr., Gonzalo, Brahim and Mastantuono.
Despite the considerable losses, the related group has big names like Vinicius Jr. and Federico Valverde, who must take on the technical role during the 90 minutes. The presence of young promises like Mastantuono and Arda Güler offers the coach options of speed and creativity to break through the opponent’s defensive blocks. The defensive sector also has the return of experienced players such as David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger to provide security to the Thibaut Courtois goalkeeper.
Advantage on the scoreboard and scenarios for European classification
Real Madrid arrives for the second leg with the minimum advantage achieved in the first meeting held in Lisboa, where they won 1-0. On the other hand, Benfica necessarily needs a victory by two goals to advance directly into regulation time. Caso the visiting team wins by just one goal difference, the decision will be sent to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.
Any other result, including straight Real Madrid wins or goal draws, favors the home team due to the aggregate score. The competitive atmosphere is high, considering that the clubs have recent histories of balanced games in continental competitions. The absence of the qualifying away goal criterion, abolished by Uefa in previous editions, makes the scenario of a simple victory for the visitors even more tense for local fans.
Extra-field tension and Uefa investigations into racism
This Wednesday’s clash takes place under a heavy atmosphere due to the incidents recorded in the first leg, in Portuguese territory. Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr. reported player Gianluca Prestianni, from Benfica, for alleged racist insults uttered during the game against Estádio from The case generated immediate global repercussions and led to the opening of a rigorous disciplinary process by the authorities that manage European football. Uefa decided to preventively punish Prestianni, which would theoretically prevent him from working at Santiago Bernabéu.
Even under suspension, the Argentine athlete was part of the Benfica delegation that traveled to the Spanish capital in expectation of a legal reversal. The legal department of the Lisboa club filed an appeal against the decision of the highest European football entity to try to count on the player. Entretanto, the tendency is for the punishment to be maintained, reinforcing the federation’s stance against discriminatory acts in stadiums. The case remains under detailed investigation and new statements must be collected in the next stages of the administrative process.
Technical preparation of Real Madrid without its main stars
Coach Álvaro Arbeloa focused the last training sessions on defensive tactical adjustments to neutralize the offensive momentum that Benfica should present from the start. Sem has the speed of Rodrygo and the finishing power of Mbappé, the offensive scheme must be more centralized on Brahim Díaz and Vinicius Jr. The Whites’ strategy involves controlling the midfield with the physical strength of Tchouaméni and Camavinga to avoid dangerous counterattacks. The Spanish team seeks to maintain possession of the ball to dictate the pace of the match and prevent the opponent from growing psychologically in the game.
The collective organization will be tested to the extreme, as Jude Bellingham is also an absence felt in the transition between the team’s sectors. The role of technical leadership will fall on the shoulders of experienced players who know well the pressure of Champions League nights. The technical committee believes that the strength of the fans at Santiago Bernabéu will be the difference needed to overcome the physical difficulties of the current squad.
Benfica strategy to reverse the score in Madrid
Benfica arrives at Espanha with the clear mission of attacking and looking for an early goal to equalize the dispute on aggregate. The Portuguese team demonstrated solidity in moments of the first game, but failed to shoot efficiently against the goal defended by the Spanish. The visiting team’s coach must bet on an aggressive formation, exploiting the possible gaps left by Real Madrid’s improvised defense. The absence of Prestianni, if confirmed, forces the coach to change the original plan of attack for the decisive confrontation.
Benfica players expressed confidence in recent interviews, highlighting that a 1-0 result is perfectly reversible in high-level games. The club seeks to repeat historic feats of overcoming major European powers away from home to advance in the continent’s most important competition. Tactical discipline will be the key point to prevent Real Madrid from expanding their advantage and further complicating the situation for the visitors.
History of injuries and physical exhaustion in the current season
The accumulation of matches in 2026 has been a determining factor in the wave of injuries hitting the Real Madrid squad. The tight schedule, which includes national and international competitions, prevents athletes from fully recovering between high-intensity rounds. Médicos athletes point out that muscle wasting is the main cause of recurring problems, such as the one that affects Mbappé the left knee. Managing game minutes has become a constant challenge for the Madrid club’s fitness team.
The situation of Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo is also a concern for the sequence of competitions, as they are players who require rest time to avoid chronic injuries. The club constantly assesses each athlete’s workload to minimize new risks during training sessions. The current priority is to ensure that the group remains competitive in the final stretch of the season, even with the limitations imposed by the medical department.
Impact of the absence of Mbappé on the Arbeloa schema
Kylian Mbappé is the team’s top scorer and his absence significantly changes the way opponents defend against Real Madrid. Sem the Frenchman, the Benfica defense can afford to close more central spaces, focusing on doubling the marking on the wings. The lack of number 10 removes a constant threat of individual plays and mid-range finishes that usually decide balanced matches. Arbeloa will have to find creative solutions so that the team does not become predictable and static in the attacking sector.
The expectation is that Vinicius Jr. take responsibility for pulling deep plays and seeking physical contact to generate fouls close to the area. Taking advantage of set pieces, with hitters like Alaba or Trent, could be the key for Real Madrid to score goals. Tactical intelligence will be essential so that the absence of one of the best players in the world does not result in an early elimination.
Public and safety expectations at Santiago Bernabéu
This Wednesday’s match should have a maximum capacity, with fans hopeful of seeing classification guaranteed despite the adversity. The security scheme around the stadium was reinforced due to the massive presence of Portuguese fans and the tense atmosphere generated by episodes of racism. Local authorities work to ensure that the event takes place without violent incidents, focusing only on the sporting spectacle within the four lines. Uefa closely monitors security operations to ensure compliance with all international protocols to protect athletes and fans.
The stadium gates will open in advance to avoid crowds and facilitate the entry flow of the local and visiting public. Campanhas against prejudice must be shown on the big screens before the start of the match as part of the institutional response to the attacks suffered by Vinicius Jr. The total focus remains on the fight for the place, which promises to be one of the most exciting at this stage of the competition.
