Benfica will also be without head coach Jose Mourinho, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the first leg.
Barcelona continued their march towards the LaLiga title with a 2-0 victory at Getafe on Saturday, as goals from Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford secured them a ninth consecutive league win.
Real Madrid overcame an early deficit to defeat Benfica 2-1, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory and a place in the Champions League last 16.
Vinicius Jr scores twice from the spot as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 to go top of LaLiga, extending their winning streak to eight matches.
Venus Williams expresses her desire to participate in the French Open after competing on clay for the first time in five years at the Madrid Open, where she lost in the first round.
Kylian Mbappe criticised Real Madrid's lack of hunger and consistency after their 4-2 Champions League loss to Benfica, saying champions must show desire every time as Real slipped into the playoffs.
UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni for one match following allegations of a racist slur directed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. during a Champions League match.
Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic defeated Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Italian Open, marking Djokovic's first opening match loss at the tournament in 19 appearances.
Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his French Open title next month after tests on his injured wrist revealed he would not be ready in time, the world number two said on Friday.
Barcelona defeated Celta Vigo 1-0 in LaLiga, but the victory was overshadowed by an injury to Lamine Yamal.
UEFA rejects Barcelona's complaint over a controversial refereeing decision in their Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, ruling the protest inadmissible ahead of the second leg.
Norwegian debutants Bodo/Glimt shocked Atletico Madrid 2-1 away in the Champions League, staging a comeback to secure a historic place in the knockout stage.
The winners of the tie will face Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in the final. Real Sociedad hold a 1-0 advantage ahead of their second leg in San Sebastian on March 4.
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka win top honours at the Laureus Awards 2026, headlining a star-studded winners list in Madrid after stellar seasons.
Enzo Fernandez's free kick secured Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, ending the visitors' six-game losing run in the Premier League and earning caretaker manager Calum MacFarlane a first point in charge.
American tennis player Learner Tien discusses the importance of financial awareness and planning for life after tennis, highlighting a growing trend among athletes to broaden their horizons beyond their primary careers.
Carlos Alcaraz is awaiting the results of tests on his injured wrist before deciding whether he can defend his French Open title next month.
Vinicius Jr scored a sublime second-half winner as Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in their Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday, which was halted for 11 match under FIFA's anti-racism protocol.
Paris St Germain drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich, securing a 6-5 aggregate victory and a place in the Champions League final against Arsenal.
Casemiro backs Michael Carrick for the permanent Manchester United job after a strong run that lifted the club to third in the Premier League.
Several high-profile football players are facing injuries ahead of the World Cup, raising concerns about their participation in the tournament. Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and other stars are among those sidelined, while the packed playing schedule is drawing criticism.
'The only thing I can do is on the pitch -- to give my all. I won't always be technically perfect, but I will always give 100% for the team.'
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe said Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni should be banned from the Champions League after the Argentine was accused of directing a racist slur at Vinicius Jr.
A penalty from Kylian Mbappe in the 10th minute of stoppage time rescued Real Madrid, giving them an agonising 2-1 victory over local rivals Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga.
Arsenal edged past Sporting to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the second successive season with a 0-0 home draw earning them a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Real Madrid now have 45 points from 19 matches, second behind defending champions Barcelona.
Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu will co-host this year's Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, marking a historic first for the prestigious event.
Real Madrid booked a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona after beating city rivals Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Thursday.
Real parted ways with Alonso a little more than seven months after appointing him, following a poor run of results in all competitions.
Real Madrid ended a turbulent week with a 2-0 LaLiga win over lowly Levante on Saturday courtesy of second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio.
Albacete's journeyman striker Jefte Betancor, who scored a stunning double on Wednesday to help his second-tier side knock Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, once considered swapping football for a career as an electrician.
Barcelona's Raphinha will miss the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Brazil. The estimated recovery time is five weeks.
Hansi Flick criticises refereeing and VAR decisions after Barcelona's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, questioning a denied penalty and Pau Cubarsi's red card.
The 42-year-old Arbeloa inherits a side trailing Barcelona by four points in LaLiga and reeling from a 3-2 defeat in Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final.
Mbappe fires Real Madrid to the summit, Bayern lose at home and Dortmund stay in the title hunt.
Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to reclaim the world number one ranking from Jannik Sinner at the Barcelona Open, focusing on improvement and using their rivalry as motivation.
Carlos Alcaraz said he was eager to get his socks dirty on clay again as the World No. 1 returned to his preferred surface in Monaco this week to build momentum for his French Open title defence.
Nervy Arsenal go back to top of Premier League as Eze seals viNervy Arsenal go back to top of Premier League as Eze seals vital win over Newcastletal win over Newcastle
Mikel Arteta insists the Premier League title race "starts again" after Arsenal's 2-1 loss to Manchester City, with five games left and everything still to play for.
Jannik Sinner's dedication to patience and control has transformed him into a formidable clay court player, making him a favourite for the French Open, even as he navigates the mental challenges of heightened expectations and a potential rematch with Carlos Alcaraz.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances