Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho has claimed Real Madrid will be “wounded and dangerous” as they prepare for the opening leg of their Champions League play-off clash.
Mourinho’s side host the Spanish heavyweights at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday — the same ground that witnessed a breathtaking finale just 16 days earlier.
In that dramatic contest, Andreas Schjelderup and a Vangelis Pavlidis penalty erased Kylian Mbappe’s first-half strike, before the match descended into chaos after the interval.
Schjelderup added his second to stretch Benfica’s lead, but Mbappe responded with his brace. Matters intensified in stoppage time when Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were both shown red cards.
With one goal required to secure progression, Mourinho’s team found it in extraordinary fashion as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rose to head in a 98th-minute equaliser, sealing their spot in the next round.
In doing so, Trubin became only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, following Jorg Butt (three), and Sinan Bolat, Vincent Enyeama and Ivan Provedel (one apiece).
The victory was also Mourinho’s first against Madrid in six attempts across all competitions. However, he admitted his former club would be determined to respond after slipping from third to ninth following that defeat.
“They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous,” said former Madrid coach Mourinho.
“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 have won three of their four Champions League/European Cup meetings with Madrid (L1), though their overall record against LaLiga opposition in the tournament is less convincing.
They have claimed just two wins from their last eight Champions League games against Spanish sides (D1 L5), although both successes came at home, scoring four goals in each — 4-0 against Atletico Madrid in October 2024 and 4-2 versus Real Madrid in January.
Benfica have also triumphed in their last two Champions League matches at the Estadio da Luz. The only other time they recorded three straight home victories in a single edition came in 1994-95, across their first three fixtures after the competition’s rebrand.
Despite that history, the Opta supercomputer favours Alvaro Arbeola’s team to take an advantage back to Spain. Its simulations give Madrid a 49% chance of winning the first leg, while Benfica are assigned a 27.2% probability.
Mourinho, though, believes the underdog label could play into his side’s hands.
“I don’t think it takes a miracle for Benfica to eliminate Real Madrid. I think Benfica needs to be at the highest level,” Mourinho added.
“I don’t even say high, I mean maximum, almost bordering on perfection, which does not exist. But not a miracle.
“Obviously, Real Madrid is Real Madrid, Real Madrid players are Real Madrid players: history, knowledge, ambition. The only comparable thing is that they are two giant clubs.
“Beyond that, there is nothing else. But football has this power, and we can win.”
