Real Madrid vs Benfica: where to watch champions league and why tie is pivotal for Alvaro Arbeloa
Alvaro Arbeloa’s fledgling spell in charge of Real Madrid will be measured in European terms this week as his side travel to Benfica for the first leg of a knockout playoff. A stinging 4-2 defeat in Lisbon during the league phase left Real facing a play-off to stay in the competition they prize most. The stakes are simple: failure in Europe would thrust fresh pressure onto a coach still finding his feet.
Arbeloa’s brief reign and the tactical reset
The 43-year-old took over from the previous coach about five weeks ago and has already faced scrutiny over his lack of top-level managerial experience. Inside the club there is a belief he will remain through the end of next season, but that standing depends on results — and the Champions League is a particularly unforgiving measure.
After the Lisbon reverse, Arbeloa shifted away from the 4-3-3 that produced a front three of Franco Mastantuono, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. He has since favoured a 4-4-2 shape that pulls Mastantuono into midfield and uses Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius and Mbappé as interchangeable striking options. The manager has framed the change as a defensive tightening: a midfield crowded to close passing lanes while retaining the capacity to counter-attack.
Form has improved domestically — six wins from seven matches — but that solitary loss in Lisbon still looms. For Arbeloa, the challenge is to show that tactical tweaks produce not only domestic stability but also the mentality and discipline required in European knockout football.
Knockout stakes, squad news and match timing
Benfica arrive with confidence after the victory that upended Real earlier this season, and their manager has sought to exploit the psychological edge by framing Real as 'wounded' ahead of the rematch. Benfica have had fitness struggles through the campaign; some players have returned to training but are not expected to feature, and a key midfielder is ruled out with a muscle issue, likely opening the door for a defensive midfield pairing that will try to stifle Real’s transition play.
Real will draw encouragement from recent returns to full strength across their ranks and from the reintegration of creative full-back options and young striking depth that were underused in Lisbon. The first leg takes place in Portugal on Tuesday evening, with the return leg scheduled at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, February 25 (ET). Over the two legs, small margins and discipline — avoiding red cards and late lapses — will be decisive.
What to expect and how to follow the tie
This is a tie built for drama. Benfica will seek to repeat the high-tempo countering that yielded four goals in the league meeting, while Real are likely to prioritise compactness and controlled transitions under Arbeloa’s 4-4-2. Individual battles to watch include how Real’s wide attackers cope with Benfica’s pressing and whether Benfica’s forward line can find space against a denser central midfield.
For fans looking to follow the matches, check local listings, official broadcast schedules and your subscription sports packages for live coverage and pre-match build-up. Kick-off times will be listed in local promotional material; when consulting schedules, convert kickoff to Eastern Time (ET) so you don’t miss the action. Expect extensive analysis and line-up updates in the hours before kick-off.
Whatever the result in Lisbon, the tie is more than a two-legged contest: it is an early litmus test of Arbeloa’s capacity to steady a club with lofty expectations. Progress would buy him breathing room and a reprieve from the managerial speculation that surrounds any high-profile club when European ambitions hang in the balance.
