Football tips for 17 Feb 2026: Analysis of 2 promising matches and today's fixture preview featuring Real Madrid.
On 17 February 2026, football tips highlight the big European club competition, the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 playoff first leg. We provide analysis and insights on two key intriguing matches as follows.
- UEFA Champions League playoff first leg / Kickoff at 03:00.
The "Los Blancos" will seek revenge after recently losing 2-4 to the "Eagles of Lisbon" in the final league phase match on 28 January. Currently, Álvaro Arbeloa's team is confident, having won 6 of their last 7 matches (only lost to Benfica). Although in the last five UCL games they lost three and won two, Kylian Mbappé, who missed the last match against Real Sociedad (4-1 win), will be fit to lead the attack. Jude Bellingham remains injured, Rodrigo and Raúl Asensio are suspended, but Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde are still available.
Benfica, coached by José Mourinho, is also in good form, unbeaten in their last five matches (4 wins, 1 draw). In the last five UCL matches, they won three and lost two. They narrowly secured 24th place to enter the playoff spot at the last moment. Comparing again, Benfica's attacking power may be weaker than Real Madrid's. Both conceded 12 goals in the league phase, but "Los Blancos" scored 21 goals while the "Eagles" managed only 10, likely the decisive factor in this game.
Insight Real Madrid will seek to settle the score.
- UEFA Champions League playoff first leg / Kickoff at 03:00.
This is their first meeting in European competition, but in their last Ligue 1 encounter, Monaco won 1-0 at home in November. In the league phase, Monaco won 2, drew 4, and lost 2, remaining unbeaten at home (1 win, 3 draws). However, recent form is concerning with 8 games yielding 2 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses, and 10 injured players including Takumi Minamino, Paul Pogba, Eric Dier, and Magnus Akeelush.
PSG in the league phase recorded 4 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, but their last 10 games have been inconsistent with 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, most recently a 1-3 away loss to Rennes in Ligue 1. Their away record at Monaco is poor with only 1 win in the last 6 visits and 4 losses. Nonetheless, under Luis Enrique, PSG is better prepared, missing only 3 injured players. Key players like Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia remain available, giving them the edge for victory.
Insight PSG expected to edge a narrow win.