Real Madrid have confirmed their starting lineup for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 32 playoff against Benfica at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.
Real Madrid Starting XI: Courtois; Trent, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Camavinga; Güler; Vinicius, Mbappé.
The key selection is the return of Kylian Mbappé to the starting lineup after he was rested for the weekend’s La Liga match against Real Sociedad due to a precautionary approach to his ongoing left-knee discomfort. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa had previously indicated Mbappé was in good condition and ready for the European tie.
Benfica’s starting XI was listed as to be confirmed (TBC) in reports: Trubin; Dedic, Otamendi, T. Araújo, Dahl; Aursnes, Barreiro; Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
The match represents a rematch following Benfica’s earlier 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in the league phase, which forced this two-legged playoff. Real Madrid aim for a strong away performance to build an advantage ahead of the return leg.
Match Details:
• Date: February 17, 2026
• Time: 21:00 CET (20:00 UTC / 01:00 PKT on February 18)
• Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
How to Watch/Stream (select regions):
• Spain: Movistar Liga Campeones
• USA: Paramount+, DAZN, Amazon Prime Video
(Availability varies by country; check local broadcasters for full options.)