Jose Mourinho has warned Benfica to he careful of the threat posed by a dangerous’ Real Madrid side ahead of their UCL playoff first leg clash on Tuesday.
The Portuguese side hosts the record UCL winners at the iconic Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, hoping to repeat their historic win last month
The Eagles booked their spot in the knockout round by defeating Madrid 4-2 in their final league-phase clash, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a last minute goal to send them through.
Despite losing their first four matches, Benfica finished in 24th place, the final qualifying spot, after winning three of their remaining games.
It also marked a first win against the Spanish side for the former Chelsea manager, who will be hoping to make it two in a row when they clash again.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Mourinho warned his side to avoid complacency and maintain their focus on securing a massive advantage in the first leg clash.
“They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous”, Mourinho revealed.
“We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League.”
Real Madrid eliminated Premier League oppositions Manchester City at this stage last season and will be hoping for a repeat of that when they face Benfica.
Los Blancos have also won all of their three matches since the shock defeat last month and are favourites heading into Tuesday’s clash.
“Trubin won’t be in the attack at the Luz stadium. I’m very used to these kinds of ties”, Mourinho added.
“I’ve been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result.”
Benfica host Real Madrid in the first leg of their playoff encounter later tomorrow, with the second leg scheduled to hold one week later.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
