Real Madrid vs Benfica. Match Prediction and Betting Tips.

Real Madrid will host Portugal's Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs. The match will take place on Wednesday, February 25, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

• Expert Predictions Analysis
• Real Madrid vs Benfica facts
• Odds
• Game Totals Prediction

Our Expert Predictions & Analysis on Real Madrid vs Benfica

Real Madrid

Los Blancos secured a slender lead after their first Champions League playoff match against Benfica and can feel quite comfortable heading into the return leg. It's too early for Álvaro Arbeloa's men to relax, but now they'll be playing on their home field in front of their home fans and will clearly be motivated to finish the job. Real Madrid missed several crucial chances in the first leg, so they'll have to be much more mindful of their opportunities in the new game. There's no doubt Los Blancos will field their strongest lineup to date for the upcoming match.

Benfica

The Eagles failed to replicate their recent success, defeating Real Madrid in the final match of the Champions League main stage. In their previous match, the Eagles suffered a narrow defeat at home, and now face a very difficult task of recovering and advancing to the next round of the European competition. Further bad news for the Portuguese team will be the absence of José Mourinho, who received a red card and will not be able to direct his players in the return leg. Regardless, Benfica's players simply have nowhere to retreat and are obliged to press forward, trying to create chances near the opponent's goal.

Real Madrid vs Benfica facts

• In the first match of the 1/16 finals of the Champions League, Real Madrid beat Benfica away with a score of 1:0;
• On average, in six out of ten matches involving Benfica this season, the bet on Over (2.5) comes in;
• On average, in seven out of ten matches involving Real Madrid, the bet on "both teams to score" comes in;
• Benfica and Real Madrid have not drawn once in the current Champions League.

Odds from download 1xbet

1xbet, a bookmaker very popular among football fans, offers its players the following odds for this return leg of the Champions League Round of 32: 1.50 on a Real Madrid win, 4.70 on a draw, and 5.80 on a Benfica win. Install the 1xbet app and place a bet on the favorite!

Game Totals Prediction

Real Madrid is rightly considered the favorite in the home return leg against Benfica in the Champions League Round of 32, especially after winning the first leg. Now, Los Blancos only need to avoid defeat in front of their home fans to advance to the next stage of the premier European competition, but it's unlikely the home team will play to hold on to the lead, as such a strategy could easily fail. The Orlov team will certainly try to play aggressively up front and will likely have their chances. A promising bet in this case seems to be a bet on Handicap 1 (-1) at 1.77.