The pressure remains squarely on the hosts following the result; Porto maintain their commanding seven-point lead over Benfica in the standings. While the late equalizer saved face for the ‘Águias,’ the failure to secure all three points effectively keeps the title destiny firmly in the hands of the Dragons with just nine rounds remaining.

Relive every goal—including the dramatic late leveler from Leandro Barreiro—tactical adjustment, and heated post-match confrontation in our full breakdown of the 2-2 stalemate in Lisbon.

[Watch Benfica vs Porto online in the US on Fubo]

The Primeira Liga spotlight shines brightly this weekend as Porto and Benfica collide in one of Portugal’s fiercest rivalries with major title implications. Porto sits atop the standings with 65 points, holding a four-point edge over Sporting CP and a seven-point cushion over Benfica.

A win would strengthen Porto’s grip on first place, while Benfica urgently needs three points to tighten the race and keep its championship hopes alive in this pivotal showdown.

When will the Benfica vs Porto match be played?

Benfica will take on Porto in a Matchday 25 clash of the 2025/2026 Primeira Liga this Sunday, March 8, with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 PM (ET).

Benfica vs Porto: Time by State in the USA

ET: 2:00 PM
CT: 1:00 PM
MT: 12:00 PM
PT: 11:00 AM

How to watch Benfica vs Porto in the USA

Catch this 2025-26 Primeira Liga clash between Benfica and Porto in the USA on Fubo. Other options: Benfica TV INT.

During the match’s official coverage, television cameras identified a supporter making a racist political gesture. UEFA‘s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body responded by issuing a financial penalty and a suspended partial stadium closure.

“To fine Real Madrid C.F. €15,000 and to order the partial closure of Real Madrid C.F. stadium (i.e. 500 adjacent seats of the lower south stand), during the next one (1) UEFA club competition match in which Real Madrid C.F. will play as host club, for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters. Said stadium closure is suspended during a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision,” UEFA stated in an official release.

Because the closure is suspended, Real Madrid will be permitted to operate at full capacity when they host Manchester City on Wednesday, March 11, for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. The sanction will only be triggered if a similar incident of discriminatory behavior occurs within the one-year probationary window.

The incident sparked significant controversy, as it occurred just as the teams took the pitch and fans displayed a ‘No to Racism‘ banner in solidarity with Vinicius Jr. following his recent accusations against Benfica‘s Prestianni.

Real Madrid take immediate action against supporter

Real Madrid moved swiftly to distance the club from the individual’s actions. Security personnel at the Santiago Bernabeu identified and ejected the supporter shortly after the gesture was broadcast.

“Real Madrid C.F. communicates that it has urgently requested the club’s Disciplinary Commission to initiate an immediate expulsion procedure for the member caught by television cameras,” the club stated in an official statement. “This member was located by club security members moments after appearing in the broadcast and was immediately expelled from the stadium”.

The club concluded by reaffirming its stance against intolerance: “Real Madrid condemns these types of gestures and expressions that incite violence and hatred in sport and in society”.

The coach made a strong statement about the potential consequences for his player. As journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed on his Instagram account, the coach warned that if Prestianni’s words were true, his career with Mourinho and Benfica would be over.

“I love Arbeloa and I will continue to love him but I think I took the right position about that case. I took position without defending one or attacking another. I clearly said he didn’t want to wear either Real white jersey or Benfica’s red jersey in a situation that could eventually be serious, that I said after the game,” Mourinho said.

“That’s why I tell you to read the Declaration of Human Rights and I repudiate any discrimination or prejudice. I also tell you that if you prove that my player did not respect these principles, this player’s career with coach Mourinho and Benfica comes to an end.”

Anticipation builds over final decision

Jose Mourinho is undoubtedly one of the most experienced coaches in European soccer today, not only because of his achievements but also for how he manages his squads.

For this reason, he still maintains a cloud of uncertainty regarding Prestianni’s situation and a potential sanction after his incident with Vinicius Jr during the latest Champions League playoffs: “I’m not a literate person… but I’m not ignorant either. I put the presumption of innocence and always put a if.

“Unfortunately, UEFA had preferred to keep the player away from game looking at article 416328… and they went in the direction of not getting into ‘IFs.’ If the player is effectively guilty, I won’t look at him the same way again and it’s over with me. But I have to put a lot of ‘IFs’ ahead.”

A recent report from the Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha alleged that Prestianni admitted to his teammates that he did, in fact, direct a racial slur toward the Brazilian forward during the first leg.

In response to these claims, Benfica issued a new statement on Thursday, once again coming to the defense of the 20-year-old midfielder and categorically denying the report.

“Benfica categorically deny that the player Prestianni informed the squad or the Club’s structure that he had made a racist insult toward Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid,” the club stated in an official statement.

“As has already been made public, the player apologized to his teammates for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting its scale and consequences, and assuring everyone — just as he did from the very first moment — that he is not racist,” the statement concluded.

Prestianni criticizes UEFA

After UEFA reached a final decision to uphold Prestianni’s provisional suspension for the second leg against Real Madrid—rejecting Benfica’s appeal to have the player available—Prestianni broke his silence in a now-deleted post where he took a direct shot at the European governing body.

Writing on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Prestianni described UEFA as ‘a disgrace,’ alleging that ‘they’re not even trying to hide their bias against Real Madrid anymore.’ However, just minutes after the post went live, Prestianni opted to delete it.

The outburst follows a highly contentious week for the player, who was sidelined for the decisive matchup at the Santiago Bernabeu while UEFA continues its investigation into racism allegations made by Vinicius Jr.

The matchup had been overshadowed by racism allegations made by the Brazilian international against the Argentine midfielder in the first leg, resulting in Prestianni’s suspension for the return fixture.

Having served as a pivotal figure throughout the tie—scoring key goals in both the first and second legs—Vini took to his Instagram account to share a three-word message: “The dance continues!!!!!!”

After facing significant criticism over his goal celebrations—including pointed remarks from Benfica manager Jose Mourinho—Vinicius Jr. did not hesitate when he scored the decisive goal that sealed the series for Real Madrid.

The Brazilian international headed directly for the corner flag to perform his trademark dance; however, this time, the celebration took place in front of his own supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Who will Real Madrid face in the Round of 16?

Having successfully navigated the knockout phase playoff, Real Madrid have maintained their historic streak as the only club never to be eliminated before the Round of 16 in the Champions League era. With 30 appearances in the competition, the Spanish giants have reached the final 16 on every single occasion.

With their ticket now officially punched, Alvaro Arbeloa’s men must wait for the UEFA draw on Friday, February 27. Due to the new tournament structure and their 9th-place finish in the league phase, Real Madrid are locked into a bracket that will see them face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon.

The draw in Nyon will determine which of these two seeded sides will host the decisive second leg, with the first-leg matches scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 10 or 11.

The action was relentless from the very start between Real Madrid and Benfica. In more ways than one, tensions boiled over, as Benfica fans clashed with police before the Champions League rematch and the controversy surrounding Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr. took center stage. Still, setting all the outside noise aside, both sides delivered entertaining football on the pitch throughout the entire series.

In the end, Real Madrid prevailed, largely thanks to their 1-0 victory at Estadio da Luz in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs. To clear any doubts, Real Madrid won 2-1 at home in the second leg. The 3–1 aggregate score in favor of Real Madrid meant the 15-time European champions remain in the hunt for the 2025–26 title.

Who are Real Madrid playing in round of 16?

After knocking Benfica out of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid have yet to discover who will be their next opponent. However, they have a pretty clear idea. Real Madrid will take on either No. 7 Sporting CP or No. 8 Manchester City.

Had Benfica defeated Real Madrid, they could’ve met with their cross-town rivals. That wasn’t the case, and instead, it will be Real Madrid who face another Portuguese side or go up against Pep Guardiola’s club.

When will Real Madrid learn their next opponent?

The round of 16 draw will be held on Friday, February 27th at 6:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST). During the draw, the quarterfinal and semifinal will be decided, as well. No more draws will be held during the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, meaning teams will follow the path of the bracket until the final, which will be held at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, May the 30th.

Potential matchups

• Man. City vs Real Madrid and Sporting CP vs Bodo/Glimt
• Sporting CP vs Real Madrid and Man. City vs Bodo/Glimt

Real Madrid have faced Sporting CP four times in Champions League history, according to UEFA.com, recording three victories and one draw. As for Manchester City, Real Madrid have played them 15 times, with a perfectly balanced record: five wins, five losses, and five draws.

If Real Madrid draw Manchester City in the round of 16, it would mark the seventh elimination-round matchup between the two clubs. Moreover, it would be the fifth straight year they face off (2021–22 semifinals, 2022–23 semifinals, 2023–24 quarterfinals, 2024–25 knockout phase playoffs).

A notable feature of his goals: the celebratory dance in the corner, performed this time in front of his home supporters, after giving Real Madrid the lead and possibly the spot in the Round on 16.

In a gripping first half at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Benfica stunned the home crowd with an early goal from Rafa Silva. However, just two minutes later, Tchouaméni leveled the match for Real Madrid, capitalizing on a precise assist from Federico Valverde with a powerful strike that showcased the French international’s caliber.

The Portuguese side pressed vigorously to equalize the aggregate score, but thanks to resilient defending and the imperious presence of Thibaut Courtois, Benfica struggled to find the net. Eventually, Vini Jr. seized a counterattack opportunity to beat Anatoliy Trubin, sealing a decisive 2-1 victory for the hosts.

Real Madrid’s path to the Round of 16

Real Madrid have now confirmed their place in the Champions League round of 16 following their victory over Benfica. The team awaits the draw to learn their next opponent on the European stage, while Benfica shifts focus to contest the national championship title against the likes of Porto and Sporting CP.

Fans are eager to see if Real Madrid will have Kylian Mbappe back for the next round, as his absence against Benfica have been a topic of concern among the supporters.

Looking ahead, Real Madrid appear poised for another successful Champions League campaign. Following a brief domestic setback that led to Xabi Alonso’s departure, Los Merengues are placing their trust in Álvaro Arbeloa to navigate the challenges that await.

The bad blood between Benfica and Real Madrid is at an all-time high. In addition to the drama surrounding Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr., with Prestianni breaking silence in a now-deleted post aiming at Real Madrid and the UEFA Champions League, the chaos is erupting outside the stadium, too.

According to El Chiringuito TV, some fans from the away club needed medical attention. Needless to say, the air around Estadio Santiago Bernabeu has grown thick with suspense. Although Benfica’s Argentine striker will not be allowed to play, as UEFA made its final decision on Prestianni for Champions League rematch against Real Madrid, the verdict did nothing to ease the tension.

Benfica’s lineup to chase miracle in Madrid

Hoping to overcome the 1-0 deficit from the first leg, Benfica travels with a depleted roster to Spain’s capital city. Manager Jose Mourinho won’t be coaching Benfica vs Real Madrid, as he was shown a red card last week during the vivid match at Estadio da Luz.

Without Mourinho on the touchline nor Prestianni on the wing, Benfica will start the following lineup: Anatoliy Trubin; Samuel Dahl, Nicolas Otamendi, Tomas Araujo, Amar Dedic; Leandro Barreiro, Richard Rios; Andreas Schjelderup, Rafa Silva, Fredrik Aursnes; Vangelis Pavlidis.

Real Madrid’s starting XI

As for the home side, Real Madrid will vie to close out the series at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and continue their chase for the 16th UEFA Champions League trophy in club history.

In that regard, manager Alvaro Arbeloa will start: Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras; Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde; Arda Guler; Vinicius Jr., Gonzalo Garcia.

His absence immediately alters the attacking blueprint for Madrid on a night where every detail matters. In European knockout soccer, the margin between control and uncertainty can be narrow, and squad depth often becomes decisive.

With the aggregate score (1-0 in favor of Madrid) shaping the context of the second leg, team selection takes on added significance. The focus now shifts to how Real Madrid adjust their approach and whether alternative options can deliver in a high-pressure setting.

Why isn’t Mbappe playing today for Real Madrid?

Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of Real Madrid’s Champions League playoff second leg against Benfica at the Santiago Bernabeu as the French forward has been managing persistent problems with his left knee, an issue that has limited his availability in recent weeks and even forced him to miss Real Madrid’s La Liga game against Real Sociedad earlier this month.

He again felt discomfort during Tuesday’s training session, prompting medical staff to withhold him from selection ahead of this pivotal European night, according to ESPN.

He has been one of Madrid’s most productive players this season, with double-digit goal tallies in both La Liga and the Champions League, making his absence a significant tactical adjustment for coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Follow Real Madrid vs Benfica live in our liveblog!

Real Madrid’s lineup without Mbappe against Benfica

Without Mbappe due to injury, here’s how Real Madrid will line up to host Benfica in the second leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoff at the Santiago Bernabeu today:

Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga; Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior.

Benfica initially stunned the Madrid crowd when Rafa Silva opened the scoring in the 14th minute. His goal momentarily leveled the aggregate score and threatened to send the match into extra time. However, the visitors’ joy was short-lived; just two minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni unleashed a sensational strike to restore Real Madrid’s aggregate lead, allowing the hosts to head into the halftime break with the advantage.

In the second half, Benfica threw everything forward in search of an equalizer to keep their qualification hopes alive. However, Real Madrid capitalized on the resulting gaps in the defense, with Vinicius Jr. scoring the decisive second goal to seal the series.

The Spanish giants have now secured their place in the next round. They will look ahead to the draw on Friday, February 27, which will determine whether they face Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the Round of 16.