Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Bernabeu, progressing 3-1 on aggregate. The match unfolded just one week after a racism storm involving Vinicius Jr, who scored the decisive goal to settle the tie.
Early Scare and Swift Response
Benfica, trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Portugal, started brightly and took the lead in the 14th minute through Rafa Silva. The goal came in chaotic fashion after Thibaut Courtois made a stunning save to deny an own goal, only for Silva to pounce on the rebound and fire home from close range.
Real Madrid's response was immediate and clinical. Just two minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni equalised with a low finish from the edge of the box, following smart link-up play between Gonzalo and Federico Valverde on the right wing.
Controversy and Missed Opportunities
The game opened up after the equaliser, with both sides creating chances. Arda Guler thought he had put Real ahead in the 32nd minute, but VAR ruled the effort out for offside in the build-up. Benfica continued to threaten, with Richard Rios forcing another superb save from Courtois just before halftime.
Real Madrid improved after the break but were nearly punished for their profligacy. On the hour mark, Vinicius Jr was caught in possession as Real attempted to play out from the back, allowing Rafa Silva to unleash a thunderous shot that crashed against the crossbar.
Vinicius Jr Settles the Tie
The tension finally broke in the 80th minute when Federico Valverde seized on a loose ball in midfield and threaded a precise pass through to Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, surged into the box, and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner to secure Real's progression.
Absences and Aftermath
The match was played against the backdrop of significant absences. Real Madrid were missing key defenders Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen, while forward Kylian Mbappe was sidelined with a knee injury. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was absent from the touchline after receiving a red card in the first leg, and Gianluca Prestianni was not involved after being provisionally suspended by Uefa following the racism incident with Vinicius Jr in Lisbon.
After the match, Aurelien Tchouameni reflected on the performance, telling Movistar Plus: "We didn't start very well, but we remained confident and knew the goals would come eventually. We did things a little better as the match progressed and now we're going to keep going as we move forward. We need to tweak our defence a little and get into the game better, but we won, and that's the most important thing."
Real Madrid now await Friday's draw, where they will face either Manchester City or Sporting in the last 16, as they continue their pursuit of a record-extending 16th European title.
