BENFICA vs REAL MADRID | Champions League Playoff 1st Leg | 17.02.26 | 21:00 CET

Could've picked a better Albeloa pic. He looks about to cry there .

 

Just dont lose ......that game few weeks ago was so bad and the team has been so bad in big games that not losing will be a good result for the first leg

The league is the priority

 

Let's get this win today boys!

HALA MADRID!

 

No, we need a convincing display and the team to respond to the shambolic performance several weeks ago. They need to take responsibility.

 

Kill the tie off in Lisbon then rest players in the second leg. Minimum requirement imo.

 

Mou vs Arbeloa 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Lets see if our improved conditioning can help us against a team that kicked our ass in press/running/movement last time round.

 

Benfica run far more per game than us. They run about 116 km/game whereas we only run 108 km. It was exactly how it turned out in the away game. Benfica running 115 km while we only ran 109 km. In fact we ran 35th (second to last) in the amount of distance run per game.

 

Your threads always get me in the mood, thank you for posting.

 

Everything except a win is bad. Players need to fcking show themselves now.

 

Arbeloa will have to get his lineup correct.

I worry about a Fede, Arda, Cama, Tchoumeni midfield. Not one in that group is able to handle a press for 90 without some large mistake or just back/sideways passes.

Mourinho will try to nullify Trent (if he starts). It’s really going to come down to who wins that space on the pitch.

I don’t think Mourinho is all that concerned with Vinny. Let him dribble to nowhere and cut off the angles.

Mbappe has to have a good game and his accurate shooting boots.

 

I want Real Madrid to eat Benfica alive.

 

Benfica beat us not because of Mourinho. They needed to win..... we were through to the next round. We were only fighting for seedings, which was important.... not that important.

And this is about pride. I can see it as 5-0, 6-0.....

 

I think Mourinho might park the bus. It will be a tough one.

 

From the shit show a couple weeks ago, this team better show up and show up for the full 90 minutes.

They have a lot to redeem themselves for

 

Revenge game. Our players should be looking at them with anger in their eyes.

 

I don’t agree with you, mate. Since our strong seasonstart, this is the first time our midfield as a whole has looked compact and solid. They will make mistakes in the future as well, but that’s okay. The team should built a consistent starting eleven and should develop chemistry in order to establish a solid framework und rythm. Individual rotations should provide fresh energy and allow players to rest.

A question for the future is how we will integrate Bellingham. But we don’t need to discuss it today.

 

mistakes happen, but we’ve seen Güler or Camavinga decide to try to play out of pressure and gift a huge opportunity right in front of our 18 yard box. This isn’t a one off but the consistent pattern. I’m guessing we’ll see the same today from any one of those four and of course, it will depend if Benfica can convert or not

 

Yes, I understand you. Considering our current options, this is by far the best midfield at the moment. In the summer, the club should sign a conducter like Vitinha or Pedri.

I’m still confident that with the current squad we can compete internationally. Arda is only 20 and Camavinga 23. they can still develop.

The best midfielder Modrić only joined Real Madrid at the age of 27. The age difference is enormous.

At the same time, it may simply be a logical consequence of the expectations that come with playing for Real.

 

Weird analysis. the coach has nothing to do with the result? this WAS a 4-2/5-2 game.

 

Not sure I understand everyone being confident in the pre-game. It's away at a venue we recently lost badly at, against a historically successful cup competition coach who is thirsting to show his old bosses that he's still got it.

Not saying I don't expect us to win, but knowing away legs in the UCL, it's not going to be a walk in the park.

 

I will be much more appreciative of Arbeloa if he manages to get us a win tonight. It'll show he learned from the last match and that he actually prepared his team properly this time around. Yes he has a much better team, but it still won't be easy beating his "teacher" Mourinho. Time to prove he has what it takes.