Real Madrid travels to Lisbon to face Benfica at the Estádio da Luz this Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for the final Matchday 8 fixture of the Champions League league phase.
Currently sitting in 3rd place with 15 points, Los Blancos are managed by Álvaro Arbeloa following a turbulent season that saw the mid-season departure of Xabi Alonso. Real Madrid is in peak form, arriving on the back of three consecutive victories, including a 6-1 hammering of Monaco and a 2-0 win over Villarreal.
A win tonight would guarantee direct passage to the Round of 16. The squad is led by Champions League top scorer Kylian Mbappé, who has netted 11 goals in just six European matches this season.
However, the defense remains thin due to injuries to Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy, though Aurélien Tchouaméni returns from suspension.
Benfica
Benfica, led by former Real Madrid manager José Mourinho, enters this “all-or-nothing” clash in 29th place with 6 points. The Portuguese giants must win and hope for favorable results elsewhere to stand any chance of reaching the playoff round.
Despite being unbeaten in their domestic league, Benfica has struggled in Europe, most recently suffering a defeat to Juventus that left them outside the qualification zone. Mourinho has promised an ambitious but balanced approach for this special encounter against his former club.
The team will rely on the clinical finishing of Vangelis Pavlidis, who has 27 goals across all competitions this season. Injury-wise, the hosts are missing Alexander Bah, Samuel Soares, Dodi Lukebakio, and Henrique Araújo, while new January signings Sidny Lopes Cabral and Rafa Silva are ineligible.
Match Details and Kick-off Time
The Benfica v. Real Madrid game will kick off at 8:00 PM GMT. For fans in other regions, the match timings are as follows:
- Portugal / United Kingdom: 8:00 PM GMT
- Spain / Central Europe: 9:00 PM CET
- Egypt (GMT +2): 10:00 PM
- United States (Eastern Time): 3:00 PM EST
- India: 1:30 AM IST (Thursday, Jan 29)
The match will be played at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon and officiated by Italian referee Davide Massa.
How to Watch Real Madrid v. Benfica Live
TV Broadcast:
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports.
- Spain: Movistar Plus+ and Movistar Liga de Campeones.
- United States: Paramount+ and TUDN.
- Middle East & North Africa: beIN SPORTS.
- Portugal: DAZN Portugal / Sport TV.
Online Streaming:
- discovery+: The primary streaming platform for TNT Sports in the UK.
- Paramount+: Live streaming for all Champions League matches in the US.
- RM Play: Real Madrid’s official platform will provide extensive matchday coverage.
- beIN CONNECT / TOD: Regional digital coverage for fans in the MENA region.
