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Mbappe out as Arbeloa names Real Madrid squad for crucial Benfica clash
25th February, 2026 04:15 PM
Real Madrid will be without Kylian Mbappé for Wednesday’s, February 25, 2026, Champions League playoff return leg against Benfica after the French striker failed to recover from a knee problem and was left out of the matchday squad named by manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
The injury has troubled Mbappé since late last year, forcing him to sit out several fixtures in December and January, and he was again sidelined earlier this month when Madrid faced Real Sociedad in LaLiga.
Despite his absence, the 27-year-old remains Los Blancos’ most prolific attacker this campaign, having registered 38 goals across all competitions, including 23 in the domestic league and 13 in Europe.
Attacking options
Arbeloa has named Vinícius Júnior, Gonzalo García, Brahim Díaz, and teenage prospect Franco Mastantuono as the attacking options for the clash at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid head into the tie holding a narrow 1-0 advantage from the opening leg, where Vinícius struck late to secure victory. That encounter was overshadowed by allegations of racist abuse directed at the Brazilian by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni.
UEFA initially handed Prestianni a provisional one-game suspension, but the sanction was temporarily lifted after Benfica filed an appeal, allowing the Argentine to travel with the squad.
Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham continues to recover from a hamstring issue and will also miss out, while Rodrygo remains suspended after receiving a two-match ban for verbally abusing a match official during Madrid’s 4-2 defeat to Benfica in the group phase.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Fran González
Defenders: Carvajal, Alaba, Trent, Asensio, Á. Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger, and Mendy
Midfielders: Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Cestero, Manuel Ángel, Palacios, and Thiago
Forwards: Vini Jr., Gonzalo, Brahim, and Mastantuono
This is the sixth meeting between Real Madrid and Benfica in the European Cup/Champions League, although Madrid won the first leg of this tie, Benfica are one of two sides they have faced 5+ times in the competition and lost more games (3) than they’ve won (2), along with Milan (P16 W6 D3 L7).
Real Madrid and Benfica will meet in the UEFA Champions League for a third consecutive game (MD8 of the group phase, first/second leg of the play-offs). It’s the first fixture in Champions League history to be played three times in a row in the same season.
