Real Madrid vs Benfica — FULL TIME: Real Madrid WIN 2–1, Advance to Champions League Round of 16
FINAL SCORE: Real Madrid 2–1 Benfica Aggregate: Real Madrid 3–1 Benfica | Real Madrid CF advance
Real Madrid have done it. Despite Kylian Mbappé's absence and a shock early Benfica goal, Los Blancos fought back at the Santiago Bernabéu to defeat Benfica 2–1 in this explosive UEFA Champions League playoff second leg. Vinícius Jr. sealed the tie with a lethal second-half counterattack strike, confirming Real Madrid's place in the Round of 16 for the 29th consecutive season.
All Goals — Complete Timeline
14' — Rafa Silva (Benfica) — 0–1 Benfica stun the Bernabéu. Rafa Silva opens the scoring, leveling the aggregate at 1–1 and sending shockwaves through Madrid.
16' — Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) — 1–1 Real Madrid respond in breathtaking fashion just two minutes later. Tchouaméni fires home to restore the aggregate lead for Los Blancos.
80' — Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) — 2–1 Vinícius Jr. is dancing again. The Brazilian seals the tie on the counterattack.
Confirmed Starting Lineups
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rüdiger, Carreras; Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Valverde, Güler; García, Vinícius Júnior.
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Araújo, Otamendi, Dahl; Ríos, Barreiro; Schjelderup, Rafa Silva, Aursnes; Pavlidis.
Absentees: Kylian Mbappé (knee injury), Jude Bellingham (hamstring), Rodrygo (suspension), Éder Militão (injury), Dani Ceballos (injury) — Real Madrid. Gianluca Prestianni (UEFA suspension), José Mourinho (touchline ban) — Benfica.
Key Moments of the Match
1'–13' — Benfica Press, Courtois Commands Benfica arrive pressing hard and urgently from kickoff, needing two goals. Early Schjelderup crosses and Barreiro headers test Courtois but Madrid's defense holds in the opening exchanges.
14' — RAFA SILVA GOAL — Bernabéu Silenced Courtois spills a rebound and Rafa Silva pounces on the loose ball, finishing into an open net. The tie is level on aggregate — chaos inside the stadium.
16' — TCHOUAMÉNI GOAL — Instant Response After winning the ball high up the pitch, Tchouaméni switches play to the right. Valverde delivers a cross to the edge of the box, and the French midfielder arrives to finish clinically past Trubin. His first goal of the entire season — timed to perfection.
~30' — Güler Goal Disallowed by VAR Güler's goal is cancelled due to an offside on Gonzalo García. The Bernabéu is furious. Richard Ríos picks up a yellow card in the process.
~35' — Valverde Misses Open Goal After Alexander-Arnold's cross into the box, Federico Valverde — despite being right in front of goal — fails to make contact with the ball, missing a golden chance to score Real Madrid's second.
HT — Real Madrid 1–1 Benfica (Agg: 2–1 RMA)
Second Half — Benfica Push, Madrid Hit on the Break Benfica threw everything forward in search of an equalizer to keep their qualification hopes alive. However, Real Madrid capitalized on the resulting gaps in the defense.
~73' — Rafa Silva Rattles the Crossbar Rafa Silva nearly doubled his tally and turned the tie on its head after unleashing a brilliant strike that took a deflection off Raul Asencio and rattled Thibaut Courtois' crossbar. The closest Benfica come to a second.
80' — VINÍCIUS JR. GOAL — The Killer Blow A deadly counterattack. Fede Valverde wins the ball and sparks the break. Vinícius Jr. bursts forward and finishes clinically, punishing Benfica just as they were pushing. Real Madrid extend the aggregate lead and sense qualification.
FT — Real Madrid 2–1 Benfica
Match Stats — Second Leg
| Stat | Real Madrid | Benfica |
|---|---|---|
| Possession (HT) | 58.3% | 41.7% |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 4 |
| Shot Attempts | 7 | 6 |
| Corner Kicks | 2 | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |
| Saves | 4 | 2 |
What's Next: Champions League Round of 16
Real Madrid will look ahead to the draw on Friday, February 27, which will determine whether they face Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the Round of 16. The draw takes place at 6:00 AM ET. Real Madrid have now reached the last 16 for the 29th consecutive season — a record unmatched in European football history.
Where to Watch Real Madrid in the Champions League: All Real Madrid Champions League matches in the United States are broadcast on Paramount+ and TUDN. In the UK, coverage is on TNT Sports and discovery+. In Canada, matches air on DAZN and fuboTV.
