DIALEKTIKA KUNINGAN — The Santiago Bernabéu is set for a high-stakes showdown this Thursday (Feb 26) as Real Madrid vs Benfica. With a 03:00 WIB kickoff, this second-leg clash will determine who survives the knockout rounds.
Real Madrid enters the fray with a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead, thanks to a gritty win in Lisbon last week. However, that thin margin means the atmosphere in Madrid will be nothing short of a pressure cooker.
A single goal from Vinícius Júnior separated the sides in the first leg. While a draw is technically enough for Los Blancos to advance, they are far from comfortable.
The task has become significantly harder for manager Álvaro Arbeloa following a major blow in training. Kylian Mbappé has been officially ruled out of the squad after suffering a knee injury earlier this week.
Mbappé’s absence adds to a growing injury list that already includes long-term absentees Jude Bellingham and Éder Militão. To make matters worse, Rodrygo is also unavailable due to suspension.
With the frontline depleted, all eyes are now on Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian international is currently in peak form, having found the net in four consecutive matches.
Benfica arrives in Spain with their own set of problems, most notably a vacant technical area. Iconic manager José Mourinho will be forced to watch from the stands following his red card in the first leg.
The visitors are also missing Gianluca Prestianni, who sits out due to a UEFA disciplinary ban. Both sides are heading into this decider missing key components of their tactical engines.
Official squad lists confirmed that the 27-year-old Mbappé was omitted from the final selection. Arbeloa’s attacking options are now limited to Vinícius, Brahim Díaz, and the young Franco Mastantuono.
According to reports from One Football, Mbappé was pulled from training early Monday after showing physical distress. Tribuna later confirmed that the 2018 World Cup winner is dealing with a knee issue that requires rest.
Despite the missing firepower, Real Madrid remains the favorite to go through. The question is whether Arbeloa’s patched-up side can hold firm against a Benfica team desperate to overturn the deficit.
2 Live Streaming Links for Real Madrid vs Benfica
The Champions League match is broadcast live on several sports TV channels, including the OTT link live streaming platform Vidio.com
Here are the link live streaming links for the Real Madrid vs Benfica Super Big Match in the 2025 Champions League, complete with live score coverage. To watch the match on SCTV, please CLICK HERE.
For the online TV link live streaming Real Madrid vs Benfica via Vidio.com please CLICK HERE.
Disclaimer: The live streaming links above are provided for informational purposes only. Dialektika Kuningan is not responsible for copyright issues or broadcast quality. The match schedule is subject to change at any time.***
Read more interesting news from dialektika.id by clicking on Google News.
