Real Madrid players knew that they faced a tough challenge on their return to Lisbon but the reception received from some Benfica fans will still have been a surprise. Reports suggest that a group of around 50 members of the Benfica ultra group were involved in incidents before the game, forcing local police to step in to protect the Real Madrid bus.
The ultras tried to block the bus carrying the Madrid players to the stadium, pelting the bus with objects as it approached the Estádio da Luz. The incident caused a delay in the Real Madrid squad’s arrival at the stadium but no windows were broken and no players injured. Here’s a look at the scene in Lisbon...
The presence of the Benfica ultras has been notable in recent weeks. Last month around 200 fans gathered at the gates of Benfica’s training ground to protest against a poor run of form. Club officials were forced to open the doors of the team facility to avoid a major incident.
Benfica triumphed over Madrid last month with a dramatic late winner from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. That ensured that Benfica would advance to the knockout stage of the 2025/26 Champions League and set up another meeting with Real Madrid.