Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has warned his players that Real Madrid will be a dangerous opponent in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday when the ‘wounded’ Spanish giants arrive in Lisbon with bruised pride. The first leg of the play-offs at the Estadio da Luz sees Benfica take on a side still reeling from a chaotic 4-2 defeat to the Portuguese club in last month’s league stage.
That defeat extraordinary denied Real automatic passage to the last sixteen. With Benfica leading 3–2 but on the way out, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin went forward for a free-kick and headed home an equalizer in the 98th minute, sending Mourinho’s side through to the play-off round on goal difference.
Now the two meet again and Mourinho expects a backlash.
«If it is difficult to beat Real once, imagine having to beat them two or three times. That is probably what we will have to do. A big team that loses and gets injured is dangerous,» Mourinho said at a press conference on Monday.
«I know that feeling very well because it is something that I have always known as: ‘I have been fortunate enough to coach only great teams during my career. Real Madrid’s motivation is not to eliminate Benfica, but to win the Champions League. For our part it is to win and to know very well what we did to win the last match.’
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Mourinho said he expected a different match this time, with Real improving under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who had only been in charge for two weeks when the teams last met after replacing Xabi Alonso.
«We know very well that the match will not be a copy. We know that as a team they have made significant progress despite having little time. What I have asked my players is to play with great pleasure because they deserve to be here,» Mourinho said, recalling Benfica’s dismal start in the Champions League, with losses to Qarabag, Chelsea, Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen.
«My players started with four games and zero points. They had to get nine points against Juventus, Real Madrid and Napoli. They really deserve to be here.»
«And it is much better to be here, in the Champions League qualifiers, against a team of Real Madrid’s stature than against a team of a lower level. Let’s enjoy tomorrow’s match, get a result that allows us to compete in the second leg and play with pleasure.»
Mourinho said he expected a different match this time, with Real improving under manager Alvaro Arbeloa (pictured), who had only been in charge for two weeks when the teams last met, having replaced Xabi Alonso. | Photo credit: AFP
Mourinho said he expected a different match this time, with Real improving under manager Alvaro Arbeloa (pictured), who had only been in charge for two weeks when the teams last met, having replaced Xabi Alonso. | Photo credit: AFP
Mourinho also spoke warmly of Arbeloa, his former right-back during his time at Real, although his admiration will be brushed aside once the match starts.
«I hope Arbeloa wins LaLiga and much more and has a long career at Real Madrid. He’s a great guy and he deserves it… but I would love to knock Real Madrid out,» Mourinho said.
Published on February 16, 2026
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