Real Madrid host Benfica at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night with a one-goal advantage from the first leg, but will be without Kylian Mbappe as they try to make it through to the Round of 16. The winner of the tie will face one of Sporting CP or Manchester City in the next round.
Despite Alvaro Arbeloa declaring Mbappe would be fit to play on Tuesday, he was left out of their squad for the game the following day, and joins Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos and Rodrygo Goes in the stands for the match. Rodrygo is also suspended, but will serve the second game of his ban, while Gianluca Prestianni is suspended following the investigation into discriminatory language, and Jose Mourinho is suspended following his red card. The Portuguese side are missing Rafa Silva, who left the first leg with an injury.
Gonzalo Garcia to replace Mbappe in starting line-up
According to Marca, Gonzalo Garcia will replace Mbappe in the starting XI for Arbeloa, while it will be Raul Asencio who comes in for the injured Dean Huijsen in the backline. Those are the two changes predicted by the Madrid-based newspaper, and Diario AS coincide with their forecast.
Vinicius at risk of suspension
One concern for Arbeloa is that Vinicius Junior is at risk of suspension following his booking in the first leg, as is Aurelien Tchouameni. Benfica are expected to make two changes from the first leg, one being the introduction of Dodi Lukebakio for the suspended Prestianni, and Heorhiy Sudakov is expected to replace Silva, both substititions that occurred in the first leg.
Kylian Mbappe has been added to #RealMadrid‘s list of absences for their #ChampionsLeague return leg against #Benfica.
They have a one-goal advantage to protect, and Diario AS believe it will be Gonzalo Garcia that replaces the Frenchman – one of two changes from the first leg. pic.twitter.com/FWSEGUdZTD
— Football España (@footballespana_) February 25, 2026
Benfica assistant Joao Tralhao will be there in place of Mourinho, who will sit in the stands during the game. Real Madrid are expected to unveil a tifo reading ‘No to racism’ and ‘respect’.
