Real Madrid expected XI vs Benfica revealed - No Camavinga

Real Madrid can book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League tonight when they face Jose Mourinho's Benfica at the Estadio da Luz. Alvaro Arbeloa's men sit third in the table with 15 points froms seven games.

A 6-1 win over AS Monaco last time out has fans dreaming of European glory come the end of the season. That came under Arbeloa who took charge of his first game in Europe's elite club competition.

Benfica haven't fared well in the Champions League and are sitting 29th as things stand meaning they are at risk of crashing out of Europe altogether. But the Eagles are performing well domestically and remain unbeaten under former Madrid manager Mourinho.

Real Madrid's likely XI vs Benfica

Arbeloa will be eager for Madrid to keep the winning momentum going and to seal their place in the last 16. The Spaniard is expected to name a different team from the one that beat Monaco.

Marca claims that Thibaut Courtois is to start in goal, with Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras in defense. That means Eduardo Camavinga drops out of the XI that thrashed the French side despite putting in an eye-catching performance at left-back.

Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham are expected to line up in midfield. Arbeloa has shown his faith in Guler who has encountered a topsy-turvy season but looked impressive under the Spaniard.

Franco Mastantuono is another who has been a standout performer as of late and the Argentine is likely to be on the right of a three-man attack. Kylian Mbappe will lead the line and look to add to his incredible goalscoring tally while Vinicius Junior is back in form and continues on the left.

The big call here is over Camavinga given he was hailed by fans after the Monaco win after a superb showing at the Estadio Bernabeu. Carreras is set to start and he will come up against his former club whom he left for Madrid last summer.

Carreras on missing out on playing under Mourinho

Carreras joined Madrid from Benfica in July 2025, two months before Mourinho was appointed by the Liga Portugal club. The Spanish left-back starred for the Eagles last season and his consistent performances earned him a move to the Bernabeu.

The 22-year-old looked ahead to tonight's game by touching on Mourinho and wishing he'd have got the chance to play under the legendary coach. He said (via Madrid Universal):

"Wishing Mourinho had coached me at Benfica? I did wish for that, he’s a legendary coach and a real football expert. But right now I’m very happy with Árbeloa, really happy. As for Mourinho, I wish him all the best."

Mourinho spent three seasons as Madrid manager, guiding Los Blancos to the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey. He oversaw 127 wins in 178 games but left unceremoniously after losing the dressing room.