Benfica Bogey: Madrid's Portuguese Nightmare Returns to Da Luz
Real Madrid face a daunting trip to Benfica in the Champions League play-in round, haunted by a history of painful defeats against the Portuguese giants.
Real Madrid return to Estádio da Luz for a crucial Champions League play-in clash, haunted by the ghosts of painful defeats against their Portuguese nemesis.
History Repeating
For the second consecutive season, Los Blancos find themselves forced into the Champions League play-in round after their defeat at Benfica three weeks ago. Last year, they dispatched Manchester City with relative ease, but Benfica represents a different kind of challenge - a team with more illustrious history than current pedigree, but one that’s consistently been Madrid’s bogey side in European competition.
The Portuguese giants might not be the force they once were, but whenever these two clubs have crossed paths in Europe, it’s been the Eagles who’ve had the last laugh. Talk about a proper banana skin, eh?
The Amsterdam Heartbreak
The first European Cup meeting between these sides came in the 1962 final in Amsterdam - a proper classic that still gives Madridistas the collywobbles. It started brilliantly for Madrid with Puskas bagging a brace to put them 2-0 up inside 22 minutes.
By the 33rd minute, Benfica had somehow levelled before Puskas completed his hat-trick before half-time. Game over? Not a chance. The Portuguese side produced a monumental second-half display to win 5-3 and lift the trophy.
Madrid fans still moan about some dodgy decisions - a Eusébio handball for the equaliser, a soft penalty for Benfica’s fourth, and a stonewall penalty denied to Di Stéfano. Some things never change in football, do they?
The 1965 Demolition
Three years later, these teams met again in the quarter-finals, and it was another nightmare for the Spanish giants. Without Di Stéfano this time, Madrid were absolutely hammered 5-1 at Da Luz - their heaviest European defeat at that point.
Despite throwing the kitchen sink at Benfica in the return leg at the Bernabéu (or Chamartín as it was then), Madrid could only muster a 2-1 win. Not nearly enough to overturn that first-leg disaster.
Recent History
After decades without meeting, the sides clashed again on January 28th this year, with Mourinho’s Benfica dismantling Madrid 4-2 in a match that even saw Benfica’s keeper get on the scoresheet. That result forced Madrid into this play-in predicament.
Now Ancelotti’s men must exorcise these Portuguese demons if they’re to reach the last 16. Based on history, they’re in for a right old barney at Da Luz.