Benfica — Portuguese football club competing against Real Madrid in Champions League playoff, led by coach José Mourinho.
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The Namibian
Benfica lost to Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate in playoff
“Madrid had to come through the knockout phase play-offs, in which they beat Benfica 3-1 on aggregate.”
Real Madrid face Man City, PSG draw Chelsea in Champions League last 16The Namibian
Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 in their final game of the league phase on Wednesday
“Benfica beat Real 4-2 in their final game of the league phase on Wednesday, with a 98th-minute goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin proving decisive in allowing the Portuguese side to snatch the last play-off spot ahead of Marseille, who were eliminated altogether.”
Real Madrid to play Benfica, PSG face Monaco in Champions League play offsThe Namibian
Benfica face early European exit after Champions League defeats
“Benfica appointed him in September, hoping he could turn things around, but several defeats in the Champions League have left them facing an early European exit.”
Old ally Mourinho between Real Madrid and Champions League last 16FIFA boosted total World Cup cash distributions to nearly $900 million (specifically $871 million) from an initial $727 million, citing concerns over rising costs for the 48 teams competing in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The increase includes raising preparation costs per team from $1.5 million to $2.5 million and qualifying payments from $9 million to $10 million per team.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA boosted total World Cup cash distributions to nearly $900 million (specifically $871 million) from an initial $727 million, citing concerns over rising costs for the 48 teams competing in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The increase includes raising preparation costs per team from $1.5 million to $2.5 million and qualifying payments from $9 million to $10 million per team.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Chief Santos and national team defender Steven Tjenao, born in Okakarara and who started playing organised football at age eight, won two NPL titles and three NFA Cups with Santos before earning four caps for Namibia under coach Ted Dumitru in 2002. Now a truck driver, Tjenao reflects on his football career and advises young players to remain fit, punctual and confident in their abilities.
3 April 2026 · The Namibian →
New Zealand were beaten 2-0 by Finland in Auckland while World Cup debutants Cape Verde lost 4-2 to Chile in a match where they were reduced to 10 men. Both teams are preparing for the World Cup in North America this summer.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid and Manchester City will face each other in the Champions League last 16 for the fifth season running, with Madrid hosting City at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg next month. Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champions, drew Chelsea, while other notable matchups include Arsenal facing Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle playing Barcelona.
28 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal as Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2–1 in the Champions League knockout play-off on Wednesday, progressing 3–1 on aggregate. The match followed a racism incident in the first leg involving Vinicius and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, who remains banned pending a UEFA investigation.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Osasuna on Saturday in La Liga after Raul Garcia's 90th-minute goal, a significant blow to their title hopes as Barcelona trail by just two points. Atletico Madrid bounced back from a four-game winless streak with a 4-2 victory over Espanyol to strengthen their grip on fourth place.
22 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Vinicius Junior's 50th-minute curled finish secured Real Madrid a 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory at Benfica, though the match was halted as officials applied racism protocol after the Brazilian complained of alleged abuse. Benfica coach José Mourinho was sent off in the final stages, and Madrid will face Benfica again next week at the Santiago Bernabéu.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa and striker Kylian Mbappe both emphasize the need for consistency as the team prepares to face Valencia in La Liga, with Arbeloa stressing that hard work rather than magic is required to turn around recent inconsistent performances.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid and Benfica were drawn to face each other in the Champions League playoff round after Benfica beat Madrid 4-2 in their final league phase game on Wednesday. PSG will play domestic rivals Monaco, while Newcastle will face Azerbaijan's Qarabag.
31 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid aim to seal direct passage to the Champions League last 16 against Benfica on Wednesday, where they face former coach Jose Mourinho, who coached Madrid between 2010 and 2013. Madrid's new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, a former Mourinho disciple and ex-Madrid defender, will take on his former mentor in what could be a chance for Mourinho to reassert dominance against a club that has not forgotten him.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Fifteen teams have already qualified for the Champions League knockout rounds, with seventeen more competing for remaining places in the final round of the league phase. Arsenal and Bayern Munich are assured of top-eight finishes, while PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Tottenham are among the clubs battling to secure direct passage to the last 16 this week.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →