At the end of January, the teams met in the Champions League group stage, and Benfica sensationally crushed Real Madrid 4-2. That match exposed the visitors' defensive woes: Los Blancos conceded four goals on the road, despite having a full lineup. Real Madrid, however, consistently scores on the road, having scored in their last six away league matches.
Benfica is in excellent form: four straight wins in all competitions with an aggregate score of 12-4. Laja's team has scored in nine of its last ten matches, but has also conceded regularly, with only one clean sheet in that stretch. At home, the Portuguese are bold, as was evident in the game against Real Madrid, where they created numerous chances near Courtois's goal.
The teams' head-to-head record, style, and current form suggest that a goal-scoring draw is the most likely outcome. Real Madrid needs to make up for the rout, while Benfica will be catching their visitors on the counterattack. In this situation, goals from both sides seem almost inevitable.
