Real Madrid Vs Benfica: Mbappé ruled out with knee problem before Bernabéu second leg

Real Madrid Vs Benfica will be played without Kylian Mbappé after Madrid confirmed on Wednesday that the striker withdrew from the squad for the Champions League play-off second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on Feb. 25 because of persistent knee pain; the club said he is expected to rest for at least 10 days.

Real Madrid Vs Benfica: Mbappé out with left-knee ligament damage

Mbappé has been hampered by damage to the outer ligament of his left knee since late 2025 and pulled out of the squad after feeling "pain that was too persistent" in training, the club said on Wednesday; coach Alvaro Arbeloa had said on Tuesday, "It's important to highlight the immense effort Kylian is making and the fact that he's trying to help us out on the patch. "

First leg flashpoints and immediate team form

Real Madrid arrive at the Bernabéu holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Lisbon thanks to Vinícius Júnior's second-half strike, while that opening match was halted for eight minutes when the anti-racism protocol was activated after racist insults allegedly directed at Vinícius by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who was subsequently banned for the return; bottles were also thrown from the crowd.

The clubs come into the second leg on different recent runs: Benfica beat AVS 3-0 at the weekend, and Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna on Saturday, leaving Los Blancos' domestic position under pressure heading into the Feb. 25 tie.

What Mbappé's absence means and the schedule ahead

Mbappé has scored 38 goals in 33 matches this season across all competitions and leads both La Liga and the Champions League scoring charts, making his absence for the Feb. 25 match a significant loss for Madrid; if they are knocked out by José Mourinho's Benfica on Wednesday, the result would trigger a fresh crisis for the club.

If Madrid progress, the club would face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League round of 16, with the first leg scheduled for March 10 or 11; the next international break runs March 23-30, when France play Brazil and Colombia in the United States and coach Didier Deschamps is due to announce his squad list on March 19.

Mbappé previously flew to Saudi Arabia in January to appear as a substitute in the Spanish Super Cup final after missing the semi-final with knee pain, and Madrid will now wait through the minimum 10-day rest period set by the club to determine his availability for those upcoming dates; the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu kicks off at 3 p. m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 25.