PREVIEW: Champions League playoff long-shots Benfica welcome Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid travel to Portugal to face playoff long-shots Benfica in new manager Alvaro Arbeloa’s first Champions League outing on Wednesday night.

The former Los Blancos defender has been in charge since January 12th, following the sacking of Xabi Alonso prompted by a 3-2 defeat to rivals Barcelona in the final of the Supercopa de España.

Benfica enter the match two points adrift of the playoff places, but an unlikely win won’t guarantee a spot with qualification still a realistic aim for six teams around them.

Madrid are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions and go into the match against Benfica on the back of a 2-0 win against Villarreal.

They’ve won five and lost two of their seven matches of the league phase and currently sit third in the table behind Bayern Munich and leaders Arsenal.

French forward Kylian Mbappé arrives in Portugal in fine form, having scored in each of his last three matches to take his tally to five goals over that period.

The visitors will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has a thigh issue, while Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy are both out due to hamstring injuries.

Fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger will also not feature due to a knee problem.

Meanwhile, hosts Benfica come into the clash in red-hot form, having secured a fourth consecutive victory with a 4-0 win over Estrela at the weekend.

They currently sit third in the Primeira Liga table, having won two of their last five league matches.

In the Champions League phase, qualification is slipping out of reach for José Mourinho’s side, who sit 29th in the table and are staring elimination in the face.

The Portuguese outfit have won just two of their seven matches in the competition, making the showdown with Real Madrid is a must-win encounter.

Victory would lift Benfica up to 22nd and into a knockout-phase play-off spot, while a draw or defeat would confirm their elimination.

They will be without the injured Bah, Samuel Soares, Dodi Lukebakio.

Richard Rios will be absent due to lack in fitness.

The match will be live on TNT Sport Extra and Discovery Plus in the UK, with a kick-off time of 8pm.