16th February 2026
February 16 – Benfica boss Jose Mourinho believes Real Madrid will arrive in Lisbon with their pride hurt – and that makes them all the more threatening – when the two sides renew acquaintances in the Champions League playoffs on Tuesday night.
The Portuguese side booked their play-off place in unforgettable fashion last month, stunning Madrid 4-2 on the final night of the league phase – decided deep into stoppage time thanks to goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s 98th-minute header to seal a famous victory.
That dramatic defeat at the Estadio da Luz proved costly for the 15-time European champions: Madrid slipped from third to ninth in the standings, missing out on automatic qualification.
“They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous,” said former Madrid manager Mourinho in a press conference this morning.
“We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League.”
Benfica, currently third in the Primeira Liga, host Tuesday’s first leg at 20:00 GMT.
The league-phase showdown had seemed destined to end in heartbreak for Mourinho and Co. Despite leading 3-2 in the closing seconds, they were heading out of the competition by the finest of margins: goals scored.
With Real reduced to nine men after Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were dismissed in added time, Benfica were awarded a free-kick. Up stepped Trubin, who rose above Thibaut Courtois to nod in a dramatic winner.
Mourinho expects another stern examination this time around.
The tie will be “very demanding, without a doubt,” he said.
“Trubin won’t be in the attack at the Luz stadium. I’m very used to these kinds of ties.
“I’ve been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result.”
Last month’s triumph was Mourinho’s first victory over his former club and ensured Benfica progressed to the knockout rounds even after losing their opening four league-phase matches.
Madrid, meanwhile, sit top of La Liga, holding a two-point advantage over Barcelona.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [moc.l1771242744labto1771242744ofdlr1771242744owedi1771242744sni@g1771242744niwe.1771242744yrrah1771242744](javascript:;)