Who Could Real Madrid Face in the Champions League Round of 16?
The second leg between Benfica and Real Madrid in the 2025–26 Champions League was undoubtedly eventful, though regrettably for all the wrong reasons.
Vinicius Junior's opening strike was spectacular, reminiscent of his goal against Rayo Vallecano last month but with even more power, yet it was the Brazilian's moment of magic in Lisbon that would spark the incidents which Trent Alexander-Arnold would subsequently call a "disgrace to football."
Gianluca Prestianni's reported racist comments toward Madrid's goal scorer overshadowed what was an excellent away display for Álvaro Arbeloa's team, just three weeks after their shocking 4–2 loss at the same venue.
Their 1–0 triumph puts them one step closer to the round of 16, and, barring Benfica becoming the first side since Erik ten Hag's Ajax in 2019 to eliminate Madrid after dropping the first leg at home, they will meet one of these two opponents next.
Who Could Real Madrid Face in the Champions League Round of 16?
Who Could Real Madrid Face in the Champions League Round of 16?
Should Benfica be unable to mount an improbable turnaround at the Santiago Bernabéu next week, particularly with José Mourinho banned from the sideline after his red card on Tuesday evening, then Real Madrid will encounter either Sporting CP or, most likely, Manchester City in the round of 16.
Madrid have built quite a fierce competitive relationship with Pep Guardiola's Citizens, and if they clash in the upcoming round, the two clubs would have battled in the knockout phases of each of the last five Champions League campaigns. Perhaps too much familiarity?
Their latest encounters certainly haven't matched the excitement of their unforgettable semi-final battles of 2021–22 and 2022–23, when City got revenge for their heartbreaking loss the previous season with a commanding 4–0 win at the Etihad Stadium en route to the treble.
Real Madrid's Head-to-Head Record vs. Potential Round of 16 Opponents
Real Madrid's Head-to-Head Record vs. Potential Round of 16 Opponents
Statistic | Man City | Sporting CP |
|---|---|---|
Played | 15 | 6 |
Real Madrid Wins | 6 | 4 |
Draws | 4 | 1 |
Real Madrid Losses | 5 | 1 |
The teams have already crossed paths in this season's competition, with Guardiola's Citizens securing a 2–1 victory at the Bernabéu during the league stage.
A matchup with Sporting CP would be more unusual for Madrid, even though it would mean another trip to Lisbon for the third time in just a few weeks. They haven't played against Os Leões since 2016, and have never suffered defeat to the 21-time Portuguese champions in Champions League action.
Their relationship with Sporting goes back to 1994, when Madrid progressed on away goals in a tight UEFA Cup first round matchup.