"Benfica host Real Madrid at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday night knowing that only a victory will keep their Champions League hopes alive heading into the final reckoning of the league phase. The Portuguese side begin matchday eight sitting 29th in the 36-team table, two points adrift of the final playoff positions, while Madrid arrive in Lisbon placed third but still not mathematically assured of a top-eight finish, with the standings tightly packed beneath them."
"Real Madrid also arrive after a turbulent period, having endured managerial upheaval earlier this month before stabilising under new leadership. Los Blancos have now won three consecutive matches in all competitions, including a 2-0 away victory at Villarreal that kept them within touching distance of the La Liga summit. Madrid's Champions League campaign has been far more controlled. Five wins from seven matches have placed them firmly in contention for automatic qualification, and another victory here would confirm a place in the last 16."
Benfica need a victory over Real Madrid at Estadio da Luz to preserve any realistic chance of progressing from the Champions League league phase. Benfica sit 29th of 36 and are two points outside the final playoff positions after an early collapse of four straight defeats, though back-to-back 2-0 wins over Ajax and Napoli briefly improved prospects. A subsequent 2-0 loss at Juventus halted momentum and left qualification reliant on other results. Real Madrid sit third, have stabilised after managerial upheaval, and can confirm last-16 qualification with another win. Several Benfica players are injured or ineligible and Nicolas Otamendi will reach 100 Champions League appearances.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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