Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 Agg.)
Real Madrid has officially secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight. Despite some early nerves, Los Blancos demonstrated why they are the kings of Europe, advancing with a 3-1
aggregate score.
Match Summary: Resilience at the Bernabéu
The night started with a shock for the home fans. Benfica, determined to overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit, came out firing and leveled the aggregate score early in the first half. However, Real Madrid’s response was nearly instantaneous, restoring their control before the halftime whistle.
14′ Goal (Benfica): Rafa Silva stunned the stadium, finding the back of the net from close range to make it 1-0 on the night and 1-1 on aggregate.
16′ Goal (Real Madrid): Just two minutes later, Aurélien Tchouaméni silenced the traveling supporters with a thunderous strike from distance, putting Madrid back in the lead on aggregate.
79′ Goal (Real Madrid): The decisive blow came late in the second half. Vinícius Júnior, who has been the subject of much discussion this week, broke away on a clinical counter-attack to slot the ball past Trubin and seal
the qualification.
Key Takeaways
Vini Jr. Shines Amid Pressure: Following a week of intense media scrutiny and support from the fans, Vinícius Júnior once again proved to be the difference-maker, scoring in his fifth consecutive game.
Injury Concerns: The win was slightly dampened by an injury to Raúl Asencio, who had to be replaced by David Alaba in the 76th minute.
What’s Next? Real Madrid moves into the Friday draw for the Round of 16, where they are projected to face either Manchester City or Sporting CP.
It was a night of great emotion. We knew Benfica would be dangerous, but the team showed incredible maturity to react so quickly after their goal.” — Real Madrid Technical Staff
