Ex-Chelsea Star Predicts Real Madrid Would Not Lift Champions League This Season

Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 12:49 IST

Craig Burley doubts Real Madrid's Champions League chances, noting struggles against top teams like Bayern Munich despite Vinicius Junior's victory over Benfica.

Former Scotland and Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has said that the moment opponent teams start dominating possession, Real Madrid become restless and he can see nothing special from the team to think that they would lift their 16th Champions League title.

Vinicius Junior sealed Real Madrid’s progress to the tournament’s last 16 on Wednesday with the clincher against Benfica.

Vinicius scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win on the night to bag a 3-1 aggregate success for Real in the play-off tie in Madrid.

“You watch Real Madrid when other teams start to boss possession, the crowd get more restless. And as they get more restless, the players get more tense. But Benfica did not really allow that to happen by making that mistake," Burley said while speaking to ESPN. 

“That being said, the game was still on a knife-edge until late in the game. But yeah, I am seeing nothing from Real Madrid that makes me think, apart from La Liga, where there is a title race, that they are going to go anywhere near in this competition. I might be wrong, but I don’t think so," Burley said.

The ex-footballer added that Alvaro Arbeloa’s team would face difficulties when up against elite opposition, citing Bayern Munich, PSG, Arsenal and FC Barcelona as sides capable of exposing Real Madrid’s weaknesses.

“I am seeing nothing that is suggesting that when they come up against a really solid outfit, one of the real big boys that are playing well, whether it be Bayern Munich or if PSG up their game and I know they had the the struggles, or Arsenal or anybody else like that, or maybe even Barcelona again, I think they are going to get the comeuppance because they are just not playing very well," Burley said.

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