Mourinho Returns to Face Real Madrid in Champions League

Published on February 17, 2026

Football fans are in for a major showdown tonight as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica prepare to face his former club Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg.

The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT (21:00 local time) at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.

Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, returns to face the club he once led, a subplot that adds extra spice to this crucial Champions League tie.

Benfica famously beat Real Madrid 4-2 earlier in the competition, helping them reach the play-off stage. Mourinho has spoken openly about the challenge ahead, even describing Real Madrid as a “wounded king” after their recent struggles, but urging his players to approach the game with confidence and ambition.

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Real Madrid, now managed by former player Álvaro Arbeloa, will be looking to avenge their earlier loss and progress toward the last 16. The clash is one of the standout ties in this season’s Champions League knockout rounds.

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