Benfica manager Jose Mourinho believes Real Madrid will be a tough opponent in their upcoming Champions League meeting as they are still hurting from the group stage loss.
The two teams will face each other again after a dramatic match last month. Benfica won that game 4-2, with a last-minute goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. That result pushed Real Madrid, a club with 15 European titles, out of the top spots and into the play-off round.
Speaking about the Spanish side, Mourinho said they are feeling the pain of that defeat. “They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous,” he explained. Mourinho used to coach Real Madrid himself.
He said his team will approach the first leg with confidence. “We will play with our heads, ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League,” he added.
The first leg takes place on Tuesday at Benfica’s home ground, the Estadio da Luz, at 20:00 GMT. Benfica currently sits third in the Portuguese league.
The last meeting between the two was unforgettable. Benfica was leading 3-2, but with the game nearly over, they were almost knocked out. However, in the final seconds, they won a free-kick. Real Madrid was down to nine men after two red cards in added time. Benfica’s goalkeeper, Trubin, came forward and headed the ball past Real’s keeper, Thibaut Courtois, to seal the win.
Mourinho knows the tie will be difficult. “It will be very demanding, without a doubt,” he said. He also joked that fans should not expect a repeat of Trubin’s heroics. “Trubin won’t be in the attack at the Luz stadium,” Mourinho said with a smile.
The experienced coach shared his thoughts on how to handle such important matches. “I’m very used to these kinds of ties. I’ve been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg. I say there is no definitive result.”
That victory last month was Mourinho’s first ever win against his old club. It also helped Benfica reach the knockout stages after they had lost their first four games in the group phase.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, is doing well in Spain. They are top of La Liga, two points ahead of rivals Barcelona.