Real Madrid Vs Benfica: Tchouameni’s strike restores aggregate lead as absences and European drama swirl

Aurelien Tchouameni’s cool finish made it 1-1 in the second leg, putting his side 2-1 up on aggregate in the Champions League knockout playoff — a fresh twist in the Real Madrid Vs Benfica tie that arrives amid notable absences and a chaotic night across Europe.

Real Madrid Vs Benfica: Tchouameni’s instant response

Aurelien Tchouameni made it 1-1 between Real Madrid and Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League play-off, putting his side 2-1 up overall. The goal restored Real Madrid’s aggregate lead and reshaped the immediate narrative of the tie.

Absences: Why Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham aren’t playing

Real Madrid will be without their leading goalscorer Kylian Mbappé and their best playmaker Jude Bellingham when they host Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League knockout phase playoffs. The 15-time European champions come into the all-important fixture with a one-goal advantage after Vinicius Junior found the back of the net in spectacular fashion at the Estádio da Luz; the racial storm that followed marred the match and the tie, but the second leg still must be played to determine which team books its place in the round of 16.

Real Madrid are coming off a poor 2–1 defeat to Osasuna at the weekend. To make matters worse, Álvaro Arbeloa will be unable to call on two of his best players.

Question marks surrounded Mbappé’s status after the Frenchman could not complete training on the eve of the clash. The 27-year-old re-aggravated the knee injury that has bothered him since December. Mbappé missed out on Manchester City’s trip to the Spanish capital because of the same issue and then missed the Spanish Super Cup semifinals against Atlético Madrid. He was not fit enough to start in the final either, making just a brief cameo off the bench in what wound up being a triumph for Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mbappé returned to regular action in the ensuing weeks but was a doubt for the first leg against Benfica. The forward played the game through the issue, as well as the team’s La Liga bout with Osasuna, but it appears he has reached his breaking point. Reports indicate Mbappé will only be out for around 10 days, which means the unclear in the provided context

First-leg context and fallout

Vinicius Junior’s spectacular finish at the Estádio da Luz gave Real Madrid a one-goal cushion heading into the second leg. That first-leg goal and the match that followed were overshadowed by a racial storm that marred both the match and the tie.

Sid Lowe at the Santiago Bernabéu and the night’s tenor

Sid Lowe was our man at the Santiago Bernabéu and offered a verdict on the evening. It was described as quite the evening of excitement, with all of the ties delivering drama — and, typically, the main MBM attraction being the one that had the least of it.

European night drama: Atalanta, Juventus, PSG and Galatasaray

Several ties elsewhere produced late fireworks. Atalanta beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the match, winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate. Juventus lost 3-2 to Galatasaray after extra time — the match finished 3-0 at full time, and the aggregate ended 5-7. Paris Saint-Germain drew 2-2 with Monaco, progressing 5-4 on aggregate.

Galatasaray go through to face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16. The ten men of Juventus did so well to drag this tie all the way to extra time, but their legs failed them over the final furlongs. All the real damage in that tie was done in the first leg. Atalanta are the sole remaining Serie A representatives.

Extra-time moments (minute-by-minute snapshots)

• ET 30 min: There will be one additional minute, but it’s too late for Juve; so close to a comeback for the ages, but so far.
• ET 28 min: Singo strides out from the back and slips a pass down the middle for either Osimhen or Yılmaz; it is Yılmaz who gets there first and dinks past Perin to seal the deal.
• ET 27 min: Gundogan is showcasing all of his experience, keeping possession and waiting for an opportunity.
• ET 26 min: McKennie had the opportunity to send one of his long throws into the Gala mixer but opted to take it short; Gala cleared their lines.
• ET 25 min: Boga took an overly ambitious strike from 30 yards that sailed high and wide.
• ET 23 min: That fantastico Juan Cabal fiasco last week looks even more costly now — an ill-fated 21-minute spin in the square-wheeled car.
• ET 21 min: No equaliser for Juve there, but they served notice that the tie wasn’t over yet.
• ET 20 min: Openda won a corner down the left; the set piece was cleared by Osimhen. Juve came again, Zhegrova cut in from the right and tried from a tight angle; Cakir produced an excellent reaction save. The rebound fell to Kostic, who snatched at his shot and sent it wide right.
• ET 19 min: Juve made changes as Locatelli and a hamstrung Kalulu made way for Kostić and Openda.
• ET 17 min: Osimhen juggled the ball with his head on the edge of the Juve box before teeing up Eren Elmalı; Elmalı took a wild swipe and cleared the bar in rugby-union style.

Recent updates indicate the knockout playoff picture remains fluid: the second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica has turned on a single moment from Tchouameni, while absences and the wider European drama ensure attention will stay fixed on developments in the coming days.