Without Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid’s record gives Benfica hope | OneFootball

The absence of Kylian Mbappé in this Wednesday’s clash with Benfica could have a direct impact on Real Madrid’s fortunes in the Champions League. Recent history shows that the teams of the French international rarely achieve good results when the forward is not in the starting lineup in the prestigious competition, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by the Eagles.

In the last five occasions when Mbappé did not start in the Champions League due to physical problems, the teams he represented (first PSG and then Real Madrid) ended up defeated. This statistical pattern has repeated itself over the years and helps explain the importance of the number "10" to the team’s overall performance.

The first case dates back to November 4, 2020, when PSG lost 2-1 to Leipzig, at a time when the Frenchman was dealing with a thigh problem. This was followed by a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on May 4, 2021, in the semi-finals of the prestigious competition, a match in which the 27-year-old athlete was an unused substitute due to a muscle injury.

In February 2023, still playing for PSG, the forward once again was not in the starting eleven against Bayern Munich and the Parisians lost 1-0. Already with Real Madrid, the scenario repeated itself in October 2024, in a 1-0 defeat to Lille, and again in December 2025, when the "Merengues" were beaten at home by Manchester City 2-1.

It should be recalled that Benfica will be back in action next Wednesday, February 25, against Real Madrid. The match, counting for the second leg of the Champions League play-off, will be played at 20:00 at the Bernabéu.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.