UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Season

[verdinio]

Of course, Real Madrid will also prepare a special strategy when they face Benfica again. The defeat in the previous match will be a significant lesson allowing them to deeply understand the playing style of the team coached by former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.
Currently, Real Madrid seems to have returned to their best form especially with several wins in their previous matches. They are certainly well prepared for the match against Benfica. However this time the focus remains on the Real Madrid coach who must really prepare a special playing style so they won't suffer another defeat against this team.

After defeating Real Madrid in the previous meeting Benfica is certainly very ambitious to beat the team competing in La Liga again because they seem to have analyzed the strategy used by Real Madrid so that the victory in the previous meeting was rare like that which they did so they could beat the Real Madrid team.

Real Madrid is a specialist in last-minute eliminations of teams in the Champions League and in fact it doesn't worry me, clearly this is a game where anything can happen, and it wouldn't be surprising if Benfica managed to win, not at all, in fact I think it's a very good team. Lol

[emrecemsan]

Real Madrid is a specialist in last-minute eliminations of teams in the Champions League and in fact it doesn't worry me, clearly this is a game where anything can happen, and it wouldn't be surprising if Benfica managed to win, not at all, in fact I think it's a very good team. Lol

Real Madrid are the most successful European team by far now. There is no team that can even race them in the CL history for example.  

Even in the last 4 years which haven't been easy for them in this tournament they still managed to win the trophy twice! That's something to brag about without a doubt.

This year, I don't know... Arbeloa isn't a manager to trust from my perspective. That's why it looks more challenging to win it again.

[giorgione]

It's not just discovering the weakness of real madrid, it's more about tactical dominance of benfica over real madrid, due to the Jose Mourinho effect on this benfica side. Right now it's crystal clear that real madrid are playing without identity and tactical awareness, so the chances of benfica still winning them are there even though they are the favourite on paper.
Additional, Arbeloa the current real madrid coach knows that they can't afford to be knockout from this playoff tie  by benfica, because their will consequences which some of the players will also be targeted, so losing and crashing out against benfica this time around is never an option for real madrid, but nothing is guaranteed in football.

I think Benfica is a rocky team, certainly they can do very well and can dominate Real Madrid but it will not be the same Real Madrid they met last time.
It will certainly be more important for them Benfica being a team coached by Mourinho it will certainly be tactical and will do its job well but Real Madrid will not stand by and watch.

[Smartvirus]

I think Benfica is a rocky team, certainly they can do very well and can dominate Real Madrid but it will not be the same Real Madrid they met last time.
It will certainly be more important for them Benfica being a team coached by Mourinho it will certainly be tactical and will do its job well but Real Madrid will not stand by and watch.

A rocky team but, ain’t that rock solid you know, although they would be a hard to beat team with the kind of manager they’ve got, Mourinho and his defensive mentality. He surely knows how to make his players push and pull back for the defense at the same time.
The Real Madrid team we have today isn’t the same team from a couple of seasons ago that was managed by the Boss himself Ancelotti, all that is off the wind and except they get on the front foot and fast in the first half, there wouldn’t be any last minute for them.

[masulum]

I think Benfica is a rocky team, certainly they can do very well and can dominate Real Madrid but it will not be the same Real Madrid they met last time.
It will certainly be more important for them Benfica being a team coached by Mourinho it will certainly be tactical and will do its job well but Real Madrid will not stand by and watch.

Madrid Board must be take responsible while decided to change their coach from Alonso to Arbeloa. If Madrid failed to go to the next round, Madrid board already made a big mistake. As for Arbeloa, i think this match can be an opportunity for him to show us his capability as head coach that success to bring epic comeback for his clubs in UCL. something that really important for Madrid, it's not funny the most succesful clubs with 15 UCL trophy, they are go home before reach Semi Final 

[bitLeap]

It is very simple to know which team will be through to the next stage after both legs.

First, PSG will qualify for the next stage, Dortmund will qualify, and Juventus will qualify.

What a nightmare for Real Madrid to face Benfica again after the last match. I think Benfica will stand out in both legs.

It's interesting how easy this match is for you to guess, and I'd love to put some of these teams in the betting. The scheme is pretty simple for Madrid vs Benfica in Leg 1, Madrid will be away, so the odds are in Benfica favor with an opening win.

[Cossyblack]

Real Madrid are the most successful European team by far now. There is no team that can even race them in the CL history for example.  

Even in the last 4 years which haven't been easy for them in this tournament they still managed to win the trophy twice! That's something to brag about without a doubt.

This year, I don't know... Arbeloa isn't a manager to trust from my perspective. That's why it looks more challenging to win it again.

People are doubting Arbeloa which isn't ideal.Arbeloa isn't a miracle worker, he definitely would need time before we start seeing changes. However they have been changes in the teams as they haven't been defeated since he started coaching the team.
Arbeloa is doing exceptionally very well,so let's study the team performance, probably they might surprise everyone and reached a level we didn't expected in the UEFA champions League

[Emitdama]

I get it but honestly there is zero hope for Real Madrid with this system. And a mature experienced manager won't come to this team anymore. none of them... Not Zidane, not Klopp and not anyone else. No top manager would risk their reputation to lead a team where some players are untouchable. Even if they did, they wouldn't want to deal with these spoiled players and let themselves be disrespected.

Zidane might, not sure if he will but even if he doesn't, I am sure it won't be because he would be refraining from the battle or anything like that. I think he might if he wanted to, he doesn't want to because he doesn't want to manage and that's a whole another reason.

Like even if things were great at Real Madrid he wouldn't want to, he is retired and he is happy with that, he doesn't care about anything and doesn't want to manage, not because of the situation Real Madrid is in currently.

[m4r1o]

The destiny brought them together in playoff matches and with Jose Mourinho, Benfica will try to prepare as best as possible with many tactical traps for Arbeloa and Real Madrid players in playoff. I believe that Real Madrid would feel very unhappy to remeet Benfica immediately like this.

When you play at these levels, obviously the games become crazy.
More than just a match between Real Madrid and Benfica, it was a match between two coaches with different philosophies and backgrounds.
From my point of view, Mourinho gave that little something extra

[changaa]

After defeating Real Madrid in the previous meeting Benfica is certainly very ambitious to beat the team competing in La Liga again because they seem to have analyzed the strategy used by Real Madrid so that the victory in the previous meeting was rare like that which they did so they could beat the Real Madrid team.

Real Madrid will now certainly have a strategy to face the championship that is going on, the gap between the possible victories could change and this is a sure thing because i don't think there is much to say, it can be done and they can do it then in the Champions League is another matter.

[Nightwatchmare]

Look i am not a Real Madrid fan but if i were, i’d be seriously worried. It’s crazy how a team with such a massive budget is struggling to beat clubs at the bottom of the table. Their current form is painful to watch and lacks any real spark. if I were in their shoes, i’d definitely be toning down the arrogance right now.

Real Madrid no matter how they’re playing cannot be eliminated from the competition. The champions league game is such one that any team that gets to meet with Real Madrid in the competition will fear not being eliminated from the competition. This could be the end of the journey for Benfica in this competition because I don’t see Real Madrid losing to them in both games in this competition. The spark you want to see with Real Madrid will definitely be seen in the soonest because I feel now that they need to qualify and remain in the competition, they’ll play to their best and win in both legs of the playoffs matches in the competition. Real Madrid still stands a good chance for the title and until they’re eliminated from the competition, they’re a potential for the champions league title.

I get it but honestly there is zero hope for Real Madrid with this system. And a mature experienced manager won't come to this team anymore. none of them... Not Zidane, not Klopp and not anyone else. No top manager would risk their reputation to lead a team where some players are untouchable. Even if they did, they wouldn't want to deal with these spoiled players and let themselves be disrespected.

I am very sure that Zidane will not accept to coach Real Madrid even if Real Madrid wants his services because Zidane has already agreed with France to become their next coach, and Zidane is waiting for the current coach of France to lead France in the world cup before he can officially assume the mantle of France's coach, but i do not know whether Klopp will reject Real Madrid's offer if Real Madrid wants him to become their coach next season because anything is possible in football. If it is true that some players are untouchable in Real Madrid, it will be difficult for Real Madrid to do well because top and experienced managers would not like to coach a team where they will not have the right to discipline some players who are claiming they are too big for a coach to tell them what to do.

[laspol65]

The destiny brought them together in playoff matches and with Jose Mourinho, Benfica will try to prepare as best as possible with many tactical traps for Arbeloa and Real Madrid players in playoff. I believe that Real Madrid would feel very unhappy to remeet Benfica immediately like this.

When you play at these levels, obviously the games become crazy.
More than just a match between Real Madrid and Benfica, it was a match between two coaches with different philosophies and backgrounds.
From my point of view, Mourinho gave that little something extra

Real Madrid have failed to prove themselves as an offensive team this season, their performance has not been good this season. However, to fully compete with Benfica, Real Madrid will have to be more aggressive and patient. Because they need a lot of strength in their defense, if the defense does not perform well, then Real Madrid will be sure to lose to Benfica again.

[Not your key not your BTC]

Real Madrid is a specialist in last-minute eliminations of teams in the Champions League and in fact it doesn't worry me, clearly this is a game where anything can happen, and it wouldn't be surprising if Benfica managed to win, not at all, in fact I think it's a very good team. Lol

Real Madrid are the most successful European team by far now. There is no team that can even race them in the CL history for example.  

Even in the last 4 years which haven't been easy for them in this tournament they still managed to win the trophy twice! That's something to brag about without a doubt.

This year, I don't know... Arbeloa isn't a manager to trust from my perspective. That's why it looks more challenging to win it again.

Real Madrid's Champions League achievements are unrivaled, as they hold the most Champions League titles and are the only club to have won the trophy three times in a row. If, in the last four years, Real Madrid has managed to win the trophy twice because they are coached by experienced coaches. This season, it seems very difficult for Real Madrid to repeat the feat, as Arbeloa is not an experienced coach and Real Madrid's performance has been unconvincing.

[logfiles]

I get it but honestly there is zero hope for Real Madrid with this system. And a mature experienced manager won't come to this team anymore. none of them... Not Zidane, not Klopp and not anyone else. No top manager would risk their reputation to lead a team where some players are untouchable. Even if they did, they wouldn't want to deal with these spoiled players and let themselves be disrespected.

Above all, it's business. Do you want to tell me there is no reputable coach out there who would want to lead the Real Madrid team for the right amount of salary? You have got to be kidding me. You people haven't seen Real Madrid go through a rough patch before. There was a time when they sacked about 5 coaches in a space of about 2 years, whilst spending a lot of money on the Galacticos. The madness again resumed until José Mourinho Joined the club.

[BlackBoss_]

Real Madrid's Champions League achievements are unrivaled, as they hold the most Champions League titles and are the only club to have won the trophy three times in a row. If, in the last four years, Real Madrid has managed to win the trophy twice because they are coached by experienced coaches. This season, it seems very difficult for Real Madrid to repeat the feat, as Arbeloa is not an experienced coach and Real Madrid's performance has been unconvincing.

Real Madrid are the King in UEFA Champions League but their golden era last decade with five Champions League titles is very amazing and unbelievable especially in modern football with more competitiveness than in 1940s or 1950s. Such massive titles within several seasons will be very hardly repeated and the last season and this one are like newest examples for this life fact. Real Madrid will be like all others will not be able to dominate Champions League season by season, soon they will no longer win this title and have to wait 5 or 10 years for winning a next title.

It happened like this with a long time between their 9th and 10th titles in UEFA Champions League and who knows when will be a season with a next trophy for them. With departures of all three legendary midfielders, Casemiro, Kroos and Modric, Real Madrid in two latest seasons have been truly struggling to replace these legendary players in their midfield. It will affect their ability to have good ball possession as well as control the match intensity which were not big problems with combination of Casemiro, Kroos and Modric in previous seasons.

[Mame89]

Real Madrid is a specialist in last-minute eliminations of teams in the Champions League and in fact it doesn't worry me, clearly this is a game where anything can happen, and it wouldn't be surprising if Benfica managed to win, not at all, in fact I think it's a very good team. Lol

Real Madrid are the most successful European team by far now. There is no team that can even race them in the CL history for example.  

Even in the last 4 years which haven't been easy for them in this tournament they still managed to win the trophy twice! That's something to brag about without a doubt.

This year, I don't know... Arbeloa isn't a manager to trust from my perspective. That's why it looks more challenging to win it again.

Every football fan knows that Real Madrid is the most successful team in Europe, or arguably the kings of the Champions League. So, Real Madrid's status is worth considering even though they lost to Benfica in their previous match. Real Madrid possesses a fighting spirit, especially when it comes to a life-or-death match to advance to the next round in this case the play-offs.

I also don't want to underestimate Arbeloa even though he's a relatively new coach. Remember when Zinedine Zidane coached Real Madrid in his first season? Many doubted his ability due to his lack of experience coaching a major team, but what happened was that they won the Champions League trophy three times in a row. So in my opinion, Real Madrid's performance in the Champions League is not something to be taken for granted. They have a different mentality than other teams in the Champions League.

[Jegileman]

Madrid Board must be take responsible while decided to change their coach from Alonso to Arbeloa. If Madrid failed to go to the next round, Madrid board already made a big mistake. As for Arbeloa, i think this match can be an opportunity for him to show us his capability as head coach that success to bring epic comeback for his clubs in UCL. something that really important for Madrid, it's not funny the most succesful clubs with 15 UCL trophy, they are go home before reach Semi Final 

There are sometimes that you don’t get to go far in the competition even when you have a very good record in the competition thus far. Real Madrid are a team that you should fear when it comes to the champions league, even in their worst of form, playing in the champions league is like a booster from them to reignite their confidence in the game. Winning 15 UCL title is a good record for Real Madrid and should make them feel boosted and more confidence to win the game ahead of them.

One thing I always say is that if you don’t want Real Madrid to win the champions league trophy, eliminate them from the competition before reaching the finals of the champions league. Even reaching the semifinals is not enough for a team like Real Madrid, but if your want to win the trophy and gets the chance to face them, then don’t allow them to advance to the next round of the competition.

[$weetne$$]

Real Madrid will now certainly have a strategy to face the championship that is going on, the gap between the possible victories could change and this is a sure thing because i don't think there is much to say, it can be done and they can do it then in the Champions League is another matter.

Champions League I a different game all together and Madrid I belive are very experienced so they can explore that experience hey have and utilise it to get the much they can get from the champions league this season because the league is looking really tough than the usual champions league season they have been used to.

[dollyamo]

Atalanta does look like a fairly reliable team. however, I don't think they are as strong as we might imagine. their consistency in Serie A is also not very good. meanwhile, Dortmund is currently ranked second in the Bundesliga this season, with a total number of points close to that of Bayern Munich. Therefore, it can be said that Dortmund has better consistency than Atalanta, which is currently ranked 7th.

Well said, they are a reliable team without a doubt and as you say, i don't think they are on par with Dortmund.
Dortmund, in fact, is in second place in the Bundesliga and therefore plays at a high level.
I definitely think Dortmund are the favourites.

[kbhutto]

Real Madrid's Champions League achievements are unrivaled, as they hold the most Champions League titles and are the only club to have won the trophy three times in a row. If, in the last four years, Real Madrid has managed to win the trophy twice because they are coached by experienced coaches. This season, it seems very difficult for Real Madrid to repeat the feat, as Arbeloa is not an experienced coach and Real Madrid's performance has been unconvincing.

A few seasons ago Real Madrid was an unrivaled team in the Champions League, they also won consecutive titles with the same coach. This season Real Madrid is not included in the favorites to win Real Madrid's performance in the hands of Arbeloa seems to be declining, repeating the same achievement is very difficult for Real Madrid but Madrid's performance is not bad in the Champions League, it's just that winning the title is still in doubt and because the remaining teams are all top teams favorites to win.