Football Meister Logo

SL Benfica vs Real Madrid: Champions League Prediction 28 January 2026

SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Champions League
1
VS
2
schedule 28 Jan, 21:00 · Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
Predicted Score

Last update of insights: 19 Oct 2026

Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Final result
4 – 2
CoachAI prediction
1 – 2
✗ Missed: next one’s ours
Kickoff in -

Coach AI predicts a score of 1-2 for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid in the Champions League. Real Madrid comes out as the stronger side in the analysis. See the full analysis, injuries and score matrix below.

Match report: SL Benfica vs Real Madrid

SL Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the Champions League on 28 January 2026.

Coach AI looks back

Coach AI predicted 1-2: the outcome was not right.

Result4-2
Coach AI1-2not right
FansReal Madrid win (88%)not right
lightbulb

Pre-match preview: SL Benfica vs Real Madrid

This is a high-stakes Matchday 8 fixture. Real Madrid (3rd) needs at least a draw to secure a direct Round of 16 berth. Benfica (29th) is desperate; they must win to have any hope of reaching the Top 24 playoff spots. The atmospheric pressure of a sold-out Estádio da Luz, combined with the extreme 'Storm Joseph' weather conditions, creates a 'chaos' factor that levels the playing field.

#BENRMA #SLBenfica #RealMadrid #ChampionsLeague #FootballMeister

analytics

Scenarios before the match

Three most likely match scenarios

48%
27%
25%
analytics
explore

Scenario Explanation

1 CL goals) and Vinicius Jr in transition remains the trump card. Value Tip: The market overvalues Madrid's name but underestimates the impact of a missing back four and the storm; 'Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals' offers the best value. Probability Estimate: Real Madrid Win: 48%, Draw: 27%, Benfica Win: 25%.

Which scenario do you pick?

Which scenario would you have picked? Play the next match and beat the Coach AI.

Sign up free
table_chart

Current Standings

Position in the competition

League phase

Pos Team Pld W D L GD Pts
1 Paris Saint-Germain FC 2 2 0 0 +7 6
2 FC Barcelona 2 2 0 0 +7 6
3 Aston Villa FC 2 2 0 0 +7 6
4 VfB Stuttgart 2 2 0 0 +5 6
5 Liverpool FC 2 2 0 0 +4 6
6 Sporting Clube de Portugal 2 2 0 0 +4 6
7 Arsenal FC 2 2 0 0 +4 6
8 Real Madrid CF 2 2 0 0 +2 6
9 Real Betis Balompié 2 2 0 0 +2 6
10 FC Bayern München 2 1 1 0 +5 4
11 FK Shakhtar Donetsk 2 1 1 0 +2 4
12 Como 1907 2 1 0 1 +2 3
13 Manchester United FC 2 1 0 1 +2 3
14 Villarreal CF 2 1 0 1 +1 3
15 Club Atlético de Madrid 2 1 0 1 +1 3
16 Club Brugge KV 2 1 0 1 0 3
17 Manchester City FC 2 1 0 1 0 3
18 Borussia Dortmund 2 1 0 1 0 3
19 Racing Club de Lens 2 1 0 1 -1 3
20 PAE AEK 2 1 0 1 -1 3
21 RB Leipzig 2 1 0 1 -2 3
22 Sabah FK 2 1 0 1 -2 3
23 Feyenoord Rotterdam 2 1 0 1 -3 3
24 FK Bodø/Glimt 2 1 0 1 -4 3
25 AS Roma 2 0 1 1 -1 1
26 PSV 2 0 1 1 -1 1
27 Viking FK 2 0 1 1 -2 1
28 Fenerbahçe SK 2 0 1 1 -6 1
29 FC Internazionale Milano 2 0 0 2 -2 0
30 FC Porto 2 0 0 2 -3 0
31 SK Slavia Praha 2 0 0 2 -3 0
32 SSC Napoli 2 0 0 2 -3 0
33 LASK Linz 2 0 0 2 -4 0
34 Lille OSC 2 0 0 2 -4 0
35 Galatasaray SK 2 0 0 2 -5 0
36 ŠK Slovan Bratislava 2 0 0 2 -8 0
SL Benfica
Real Madrid
groups

Fan Predictions

What Football Meister players predict for this match

SL Benfica D Real Madrid
13%
88%
13% 0% 88%

Most predicted scorelines

1-3 50%
0-2 25%
2-1 13%
1-2 13%

These are predictions made by real Football Meister players, not AI-generated data.

Join the fans

Play the next match and see where you differ from the crowd.

Sign up free

Coach AI pre-match analysis

insights

Coach AI Scenarios

SL Benfica Real Madrid
W D L

Projected xG by CoachAI

1.25

Home xG

1.95

Away xG

Upset risk

Low

Risk of unexpected result

SL Benfica Recent Form: Last 5

2 W · 0 D · 3 L
▼
21/1 Juventus FC 2-0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica L 1.43
10/12 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 2-0 SSC Napoli W
25/11 AFC Ajax 0-2 Sport Lisboa e Benfica W
5/11 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 0-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen L
21/10 Newcastle United FC 3-0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica L

Real Madrid Recent Form: Last 5

3 W · 0 D · 2 L
▲
20/1 Real Madrid CF 6-1 AS Monaco FC W 2.15
10/12 Real Madrid CF 1-2 Manchester City FC L
26/11 PAE Olympiakos SFP 3-4 Real Madrid CF W
4/11 Liverpool FC 1-0 Real Madrid CF L
22/10 Real Madrid CF 1-0 Juventus FC W
bolt

Key Factors

sports_soccer 1

Real Madrid Defensive Crisis: Los Blancos are missing their entire primary back four (Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy), forcing a makeshift defense featuring youngsters Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen.

trending_up 2

Storm Joseph Impact: A 'Yellow/Red Alert' in Lisbon for heavy rain and 80km/h wind gusts will likely disrupt Real's high-possession rhythm and increase the probability of defensive errors from an inexperienced backline.

person 3

Efficiency Variance: Real Madrid significantly overperformed their xG in the last match (6 goals from 2.15 xG), while Benfica underperformed (0 goals from 1.43 xG), suggesting a regression where Benfica finds the net but Madrid remains clinical via Mbappe.

medical_services

Injuries & Absentees

Real Madrid's system is severely compromised at the back; Federico Valverde is expected to drop into a makeshift right-back role, which reduces Madrid's energy in the engine room. Benfica is missing Alexander Bah (Knee) and Dodi Lukebakio (Ankle), but their core defensive structure under Jose Mourinho remains intact, providing them a stability advantage in the center of the pitch.

The analyses and predictions on this page are generated by artificial intelligence and are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. This is not gambling advice.

Play along in the app!

Think you know better than Coach AI? Create your own league and predict this match in Football Meister.

Frequently Asked Questions about this prediction

What was the result of SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

SL Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the Champions League on 28 January 2026.

Did Coach AI predict SL Benfica vs Real Madrid correctly?

Coach AI predicted 1-2: the outcome was not right. The fans predicted Real Madrid win (88%), which was not right.

What is the correct score prediction for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

Coach AI predicts 1-2 as the correct score for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid. This page also covers the expected line-ups, injuries and xG.

What is the recent form of SL Benfica and Real Madrid?

SL Benfica form (last 5): 2W-0D-3L. Real Madrid form (last 5): 3W-0D-2L.

What are the injury and suspension updates for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

Real Madrid's system is severely compromised at the back; Federico Valverde is expected to drop into a makeshift right-back role, which reduces Madrid's energy in the engine room. Benfica is missing Alexander Bah (Knee) and Dodi Lukebakio (Ankle), but their core defensive structure under Jose Mourinho remains intact, providing them a stability advantage in the center of the pitch.

What do football fans and other predictors think about SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

Among Football Meister players, 13% back a home win for SL Benfica, 0% a draw, and 88% an away win for Real Madrid. The most predicted scoreline is 1-3. Fans and Coach AI broadly agree on the likely outcome of this match.

What is the most popular prediction for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

The most predicted scoreline for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid is 1-3. Of all Football Meister players, 13% back SL Benfica, 0% a draw and 88% Real Madrid.

What time does SL Benfica vs Real Madrid kick off?

SL Benfica vs Real Madrid kicks off on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at 21:00 (Central European Time). The match is part of the Champions League.

Who is the referee for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

The referee for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid in the Champions League is Davide Massa.

What are the key factors for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

Coach AI identifies three decisive factors for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid: 1. Real Madrid Defensive Crisis: Los Blancos are missing their entire primary back four (Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy), forcing a makeshift defense featuring youngsters Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen. 2. Storm Joseph Impact: A 'Yellow/Red Alert' in Lisbon for heavy rain and 80km/h wind gusts will likely disrupt Real's high-possession rhythm and increase the probability of defensive errors from an inexperienced backline. 3. Efficiency Variance: Real Madrid significantly overperformed their xG in the last match (6 goals from 2.15 xG), while Benfica underperformed (0 goals from 1.43 xG), suggesting a regression where Benfica finds the net but Madrid remains clinical via Mbappe..

Which scenario does Coach AI see for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

Coach AI sees Real Madrid as the stronger side in SL Benfica vs Real Madrid. The full analysis with the expected score, xG and injuries is on this page.

How does Coach AI predict this match?

Coach AI analyzes thousands of data points, including xG, recent form, team news, and tactical developments for every match.

How often are these football predictions updated?

Insights are updated daily to incorporate the latest developments, injuries, and market movements.

How accurate are the Coach AI predictions?

Coach AI has analyzed over 1,000 matches. In 50% of cases, the correct outcome (home win, draw, or away win) is predicted accurately. In more than 10% of matches, the exact final score matches the prediction, significantly above the market average.

What is Coach AI's track record?

Coach AI has predicted over 1,000 matches: 50% correct outcome, 10%+ exact final score. The model consistently outperforms standard probability calculations and gives football fans the data they need to make truly informed predictions.

What data does Coach AI use for its predictions?

Coach AI combines Expected Goals (xG), recent team form over the last five matches, head-to-head records, up-to-date injury news, and tactical match-up analysis. The model is updated daily so every prediction reflects the most current information available.

Can you beat the Coach AI?Predict for free