Real Madrid vs Benfica Prediction & Betting Tips (25 February)

Real Madrid’s Champions League showdown with Benfica at the Bernabéu arrives with the hosts in a confident but wary mood. They come into this second leg after a hard‑fought 1‑0 win in Lisbon, decided by a brilliant Vinícius Júnior strike in the first game of the playoff tie, a night also overshadowed by allegations of racist abuse that forced the referee to activate the anti‑racism protocol. Domestically, Real Madrid remain firmly in the La Liga title race and have also pushed deep into the Copa del Rey, underlining the depth and resilience of their squad as they juggle multiple fronts at once.

Recent fixtures show just how battle‑hardened Real Madrid are ahead of Benfica’s visit. League clashes such as the home meeting with Real Sociedad on 14 February and the tricky away trip to Valencia on 8 February have tested their defensive structure and squad rotation, while preparation is already under way for another demanding away match against Osasuna. Across these games, Real have shown an ability to control tempo, lean on their experienced midfield, and still find decisive moments through their forwards, even when performances are not sparkling for the full ninety minutes.

Benfica, meanwhile, travel to Madrid knowing they must overturn that first‑leg deficit but can draw belief from their recent domestic form. In Portugal, they have been grinding out results in the league and cup, including February fixtures against Santa Clara and Alverca that kept them competitive on multiple fronts and allowed fringe players to stake a claim. The Lisbon side’s pressing intensity and quick combinations between the lines remain their main weapons, and they will hope that a more clinical edge in front of goal can expose any space left by a Real Madrid team that may be tempted to manage the game rather than chase it from the start.

All of this sets up a fascinating tactical battle, with Real Madrid likely to balance control and counter‑attacking threat while Benfica push higher in search of an early breakthrough. The first‑leg encounter in Lisbon, reflected in previews like 3-1, plus domestic match build‑ups such as 3-1, 3-1, and 3-1, highlight how both teams create chances but can leave gaps. With Real’s attacking quality at home and Benfica’s need to chase the tie, a correct score prediction of 3-1 in favour of Real Madrid feels a realistic and compelling call for this Champions League cl