Head coach José Mourinho believes Real Madrid will arrive at the Estádio da Luz wounded but dangerous following their shock defeat to Benfica — yet he insists another upset would not require a miracle.
Benfica’s dramatic 4-2 victory over the 15-time European champion in the final round of the league phase secured the Portuguese side the last playoff berth while knocking Madrid out of the eight automatic qualification spots for the round of 16. Now the two clubs meet again in the first leg of their knockout tie, adding another layer of intrigue to an already charged rivalry.
“They are wounded,” Mourinho said on Monday. “And a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, with ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League.”
Despite the psychological boost from their recent triumph, Mourinho acknowledged that the Spanish giant remains the favorite over two legs. Progressing, he said, will demand a near-flawless performance from his squad.
“I don’t think it takes a miracle for Benfica to eliminate Real Madrid. I think we need to be at our highest level — not just high, but maximum, almost bordering on perfection, which does not exist. But not a miracle,” he said.
Highlighting Madrid’s pedigree, Mourinho added: “Real Madrid is Real Madrid — with history, knowledge, ambition. The only comparable thing is that we are two giants. Beyond that, there is nothing else. But football has this power and we can win.”
Benfica’s last encounter with Madrid in Lisbon produced one of the competition’s most remarkable moments. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin surged forward in stoppage time and headed home a dramatic winner, sealing a place in the knockout stage on goal difference.
“Trubin won’t be in the attack this time,” Mourinho joked, tempering expectations of another last-gasp twist.
A veteran of Europe’s biggest nights, Mourinho dismissed the idea that the first leg would dictate the outcome of the tie.
“I’m very used to these kinds of ties, I’ve been doing it all my life,” he said. “People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result.”
With pride, history and momentum all in play, Lisbon is set for another compelling chapter in the Champions League narrative.