Official: Real Madrid squad list against Benfica | UCL knockout playoffs | OneFootball

Real Madrid travel to Lisbon again to face SL Benfica on Tuesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout playoff tie.

Having been poised to secure a top-eight finish in the league phase and directly progress to the Round of 16, Los Blancos saw themselves drop down to ninth after a 4-2 defeat to Benfica in the final matchday.

It meant that they had to go through playoffs and as fate would have it, they were paired up against Jose Mourinho’s side, with the first leg taking place tomorrow at Estadio da Luz.

Ahead of the trip to Benfica, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has announced the squad list of Real Madrid players available at his disposal for selection.

The highlight is that as many as three young talents from Castilla have been called up, with defender Joan Martinez, and midfielders Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch being on the list.

Meanwhile, David Jimenez has not been called up by Arbeloa, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal fully fit and available.

Kylian Mbappe, who did not see any action against Real Sociedad, is expected to be fully ready and available to start tomorrow night.

As for the absentees, Jude Bellingham remains unavailable through injury, along with Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao.