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SL Benfica vs Real Madrid: Champions League Prediction 17 February 2026

SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Champions League
1
VS
1
schedule 17 Feb, 21:00 · Referee: François Letexier (France)
Predicted Score

Last update of insights: 19 Oct 2026

Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Final result
0 – 1
CoachAI prediction
1 – 1
✗ Missed: next one’s ours
Kickoff in -

Coach AI predicts a score of 1-1 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

Real Madrid beat SL Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League on 17 February 2026.

Coach AI looks back

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

Result0-1
Coach AI1-1not right
FansReal Madrid win (83%)right
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Pre-match preview: SL Benfica vs Real Madrid

This is a high-stakes Champions League Knockout Play-off first leg, occurring just three weeks after Benfica's shocking 4-2 win over Madrid in the league phase. That result forced Madrid into this extra playoff round, creating an intense 'revenge' narrative. The match will be officiated by François Letexier in cool, clear Lisbon conditions (13°C), which favors a high-tempo but controlled game.

#BENRMA #SLBenfica #RealMadrid #ChampionsLeague #FootballMeister

analytics

Scenarios before the match

Three most likely match scenarios

30%
40%
30%
analytics
explore

Scenario Explanation

The Narrative: While the public expects another high-scoring thriller following the 4-2 result in January, tactical adjustments will dominate. Mourinho will prioritize defensive solidity to ensure Benfica remains in the tie for the second leg, while Arbeloa's Madrid, stung by their previous collapse, will be more conservative with their high line. Value Tip: The market is likely over-adjusting for goals based on the last head-to-head; the 'Under 2.5' or 'Draw' represents the best value. Probability Estimates: Home Win 30%, Draw 40%, Away Win 30%. Madrid has the superior individual talent in Mbappe and Vinícius, but the loss of Bellingham’s late-box arrivals makes breaking down a Mourinho-led defense significantly harder.

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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
17%
83%
0% 17% 83%

Most predicted scorelines

1-2 50%
1-3 33%
1-1 17%

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

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Head to head

SL Benfica and Real Madrid in Football Meister data

1SL Benfica wins
0draws
0Real Madrid wins

Goals: 4 for SL Benfica, 2 for Real Madrid.

Coach AI missed the previous meeting.

Previous meetings

Coach AI pre-match analysis

insights

Coach AI Scenarios

SL Benfica Real Madrid
W D L

Projected xG by CoachAI

1.35

Home xG

1.95

Away xG

Upset risk

Medium

Risk of unexpected result

SL Benfica Recent Form: Last 5

3 W · 0 D · 2 L
▲
▼
28/1 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid CF W 1.25
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

Real Madrid Recent Form: Last 5

2 W · 0 D · 3 L
▲
28/1 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid CF L 1.95
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
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Key Factors

sports_soccer 1

Benfica's xG Regression: After scoring 4 goals from just 1.25 xG in the previous meeting, a significant downward regression in clinical finishing is statistically imminent.

trending_up 2

Mourinho vs. Arbeloa: The tactical gap favors José Mourinho's experience in knockout formats over Arbeloa’s recent promotion; expect a highly disciplined, low-block defensive setup from Benfica.

person 3

Madrid's Creative Void: The simultaneous absence of Jude Bellingham (hamstring) and Rodrygo (suspension) strips Real Madrid of their primary transition engine and secondary goal threat.

medical_services

Injuries & Absentees

Real Madrid faces a crisis in spine and depth: Jude Bellingham is out until April, Éder Militão is a long-term absentee, and both Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo are suspended following red cards in the Jan 28th clash. The burden falls on teenager Dean Huijsen in defense and Arda Güler in creativity. Benfica is missing the tactical versatility of Fredrik Aursnes and likely Alexander Bah (cruciate), forcing a reliance on Samuel Dahl and the veteran Otamendi to stabilize the backline.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this prediction

What was the result of SL Benfica vs Real Madrid?

Real Madrid beat SL Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League on 17 February 2026.

Did Coach AI predict SL Benfica vs Real Madrid correctly?

Coach AI predicted 1-1: the outcome was not right. The fans predicted Real Madrid win (83%), which was right.

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

Coach AI predicts 1-1 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): 3W-0D-2L. Real Madrid form (last 5): 2W-0D-3L.

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

Real Madrid faces a crisis in spine and depth: Jude Bellingham is out until April, Éder Militão is a long-term absentee, and both Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo are suspended following red cards in the Jan 28th clash. The burden falls on teenager Dean Huijsen in defense and Arda Güler in creativity. Benfica is missing the tactical versatility of Fredrik Aursnes and likely Alexander Bah (cruciate), forcing a reliance on Samuel Dahl and the veteran Otamendi to stabilize the backline.

What is the head-to-head record between SL Benfica and Real Madrid?

Football Meister has recorded 1 previous meeting between SL Benfica and Real Madrid: SL Benfica won 1, Real Madrid won 0 and 0 ended in a draw. The goal tally is 4-2.

What was the last result between SL Benfica and Real Madrid?

The last meeting was on 28 Jan 2026: SL Benfica - Real Madrid 4-2. Coach AI predicted 1-2.

How well did Coach AI predict earlier meetings between SL Benfica and Real Madrid?

Coach AI missed the previous meeting.

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

Among Football Meister players, 0% back a home win for SL Benfica, 17% a draw, and 83% an away win for Real Madrid. The most predicted scoreline is 1-2. Fans are more cautious than Coach AI on SL Benfica: fans pick 0% home win, Coach AI calculates 25%.

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

The most predicted scoreline for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid is 1-2. Of all Football Meister players, 0% back SL Benfica, 17% a draw and 83% Real Madrid.

What time does SL Benfica vs Real Madrid kick off?

SL Benfica vs Real Madrid kicks off on Tuesday, 17 February 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 François Letexier.

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

Coach AI identifies three decisive factors for SL Benfica vs Real Madrid: 1. Benfica's xG Regression: After scoring 4 goals from just 1.25 xG in the previous meeting, a significant downward regression in clinical finishing is statistically imminent. 2. Mourinho vs. Arbeloa: The tactical gap favors José Mourinho's experience in knockout formats over Arbeloa’s recent promotion; expect a highly disciplined, low-block defensive setup from Benfica. 3. Madrid's Creative Void: The simultaneous absence of Jude Bellingham (hamstring) and Rodrygo (suspension) strips Real Madrid of their primary transition engine and secondary goal threat..

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.

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