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

4x4s · Feb 27, 2026

saadomar said: ↑

Honestly, I hope Real Madrid seriously considers Inzaghi as a coach from Al Hilal. His 3-5-2 would require some extra CBs, but Trent and Carreras would benefit immensely from it. Florentino has to start making moves already for next season.
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System coaches are incompatible with clubs of this size.

AppleBob86 · Feb 27, 2026

4x4s said: ↑

System coaches are incompatible with clubs of this size.
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His system got battered in a CL final before HT. Great idea

Halycon · Feb 27, 2026

Own fault, we were 2nd/3rd place, would have gotten Galataseray or Atalanta. But yeah, we shipped 4 goals against a bunch of farmers and now we face City.

Shouldn’t cry about it.

4x4s · Feb 27, 2026

Halycon said: ↑

Own fault, we were 2nd/3rd place, would have gotten Galataseray or Atalanta. But yeah, we shipped 4 goals against a bunch of farmers and now we face City.

Shouldn’t cry about it.
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"They want us to fail, boohoohoo"

Loser talk.

robertocarlos3 · Feb 27, 2026

saadomar said: ↑

When I say it's rigged, people make fun of me. You can't tell me with a straight face that Man City and Real Madrid can happen for 5 years straight without some serious manipulation. I still believe Ceferin is taking his revenge for the superleague on Florentino Perez. I'll put on my tinfoil hat, idc.
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It sure sounds like it's rigged, but it's also a 50% change
maybe on the next 5 draws vs City we will get the other team.
In any case, it's a good test for the team and the club.
If this gets to one of these 6:1 to city overall from two games, it should be a good wake call for Perez.
On the other hand, Vini is in good form and the CL is his playground, so who knows...
It was always going to be on our shamble defense. If we don't concede many goals, we have some chance.

saadomar · Feb 27, 2026

robertocarlos3 said: ↑

It sure sounds like it's rigged, but it's also a 50% change
maybe on the next 5 draws vs City we will get the other team.
In any case, it's a good test for the team and the club.
If this gets to one of these 6:1 to city overall from two games, it should be a good wake call for Perez.
On the other hand, Vini is in good form and the CL is his playground, so who knows...
It was always going to be on our shamble defense. If we don't concede many goals, we have some chance.
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This defense will ship 5 goals mininum.

Galatico · Feb 27, 2026

Halycon said: ↑

Own fault, we were 2nd/3rd place, would have gotten Galataseray or Atalanta. But yeah, we shipped 4 goals against a bunch of farmers and now we face City.

Shouldn’t cry about it.
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Agreed. We did this to ourselves.

saadomar · Feb 28, 2026

The sad thing is that getting k/o in the UCL will not be enough to convince this board that rejuvenation of the CB and CM positions are needed. They'll just blame injuries like last summer and just say "We'll win next season when we have the full squad".

Minduchio · Feb 28, 2026

WE need to crash badly this year for Florentino to rethink his transfer policy. Last year was failure in Madrid standards, if City beats us , i am sure 2 years in a row will make them finally get players what we need, not what we want.

4x4s · Feb 28, 2026

Minduchio said: ↑

WE need to crash badly this year for Florentino to rethink his transfer policy. Last year was failure in Madrid standards, if City beats us , i am sure 2 years in a row will make them finally get players what we need, not what we want.
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I think there was considerably more that went wrong last year besides the transfers. The process of firing and hiring the current/former coach making it extremely awkward for everybody involved (Lopeteguiesque situation again, why can't we show a bit more restraint, i don't know?), then the transfers, the ill fated Club World Cup campaign.

Just so weird.

Saeta Rubia · Feb 28, 2026

Minduchio said: ↑

WE need to crash badly this year for Florentino to rethink his transfer policy. Last year was failure in Madrid standards, if City beats us , i am sure 2 years in a row will make them finally get players what we need, not what we want.
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Not sure they have the ability to scout the right play maker if it isn't an obvious market option. Xabi, Modric, Kroos were already proven world class playmakers. When they have had to sign young CMs, it's been Kovacic, Ceballos, Camavinga etc.