Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night, progressing 3-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg 1-0 in Lisbon. In a match that showcased both resilience and clinical finishing, Carlo Ancelotti's side weathered an early storm before asserting their dominance in a pulsating knockout playoff second leg.
Benfica came out with attacking intent and drew first blood after just 14 minutes when Rafa Silva pounced on a close-range rebound to fire past Thibaut Courtois, momentarily levelling the tie on aggregate and sending a jolt of anxiety through the Bernabéu crowd. The Portuguese side's early aggression suggested they believed an upset was within reach, pressing high and forcing Real Madrid into uncomfortable defensive situations.
However, the hosts' response was almost instantaneous. Just two minutes later, Aurélien Tchouaméni restored order with a composed low shot that found the bottom corner, making it 1-1 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate in Real Madrid's favour. The French midfielder's quick equaliser demonstrated the mental fortitude that has become a hallmark of this Madrid squad, refusing to let adversity linger for even a moment.
The middle period of the match turned into a tense, tactical battle with both sides creating half-chances but neither able to break the deadlock. Real Madrid were notably without Kylian Mbappé, who missed his sixth match of the season due to a recurring lateral collateral ligament injury in his knee. Despite the absence of their marquee summer signing, Madrid's depth and collective quality kept them firmly in control of the tie throughout the second half.
The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute when Federico Valverde delivered a precise through ball that released Vinícius Júnior behind the Benfica defence. The Brazilian forward, who has built a reputation as one of Europe's most dangerous players in Champions League knockout rounds, made no mistake, slotting home to make it 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. The goal effectively ended any lingering hopes Benfica harboured of a dramatic comeback.
The match also carried echoes of controversy from the first leg in Lisbon, where Vinícius had accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur towards him. The incident resulted in Prestianni receiving a provisional one-match ban from UEFA, reigniting discussions about the persistent problem of racism in European football. Vinícius, who has been at the centre of several such incidents throughout his career in Spain, let his performance do the talking on this occasion.
Real Madrid will now await the outcome of the tie between Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon to learn their Round of 16 opponents. With Mbappé's return timeline still uncertain, Ancelotti will be encouraged by how effectively his squad performed without the French star, with Vinícius and Tchouaméni stepping up to fill the void in decisive fashion.
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