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Mourinho's Bernabeu homecoming upended by suspension, racism row

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Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho receives a red card after being shown a yellow card during the UEFA Champions League vs Real Madrid at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 17, 2026. [Zed Jameson / AFP]

Jose Mourinho has not set foot in the Santiago Bernabeu since leaving Real Madrid in 2013, but his Champions League homecoming with Benfica on Wednesday will be far more complicated than initially anticipated.

Mourinho cannot sit in the dug-out for the play-off second leg after being sent off during his team's 1-0 first-leg defeat in Lisbon last week.

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