Real Madrid - Benfica: Vinicius Jr’s 80th‑minute winner sends Real into Champions League last 16 as Mbappé remains sidelined
In a night that combined on-field drama with off-field controversy, real madrid - benfica ended 2-1 at the Bernabéu, 3-1 on aggregate, as Vinicius Jr’s 80th-minute strike sealed Real Madrid’s passage to the Champions League last 16. The result arrives while Real manage the absence of Kylian Mbappé amid an ongoing injury concern.
Vinicius Jr’s decisive 80th‑minute strike
Vinicius Jr finished clinically across the goalkeeper in the 80th minute to wrap up a 2-1 victory on the night and a 3-1 aggregate win. His winner followed an early exchange of goals: Benfica took the lead in the 14th minute when Rafa Silva turned in a loose ball after Thibaut Courtois had prevented Raúl Asencio’s attempted clearance from going into his own net, and Aurelien Tchouameni levelled just two minutes later with a curled effort from the edge of the box — his first Champions League goal.
Kylian Mbappé injury: Álvaro Arbeloa gives recovery outlook
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa said the club could not set a timetable for Kylian Mbappé’s return, stressing the 27‑year‑old will be sidelined “for as long as it takes his ‘discomfort to disappear. ’” Mbappé was ruled out of Wednesday’s fixture after failing to complete training on the eve of the match because of a nagging knee issue that has seen him make multiple trips in and out of the infirmary over the last eight weeks. Arbeloa said medical staff were consulted and that the priority is to have Mbappé recover 100% so he can return in top form and confidence; he added, “Let’s see if it’s a matter of days. ”
Benfica’s fight and José Mourinho’s opportunity
Benfica, managed by José Mourinho, pushed Real and at times looked capable of overturning the first‑leg deficit: the Portuguese side had taken the early lead and maintained pressure that exploited Real’s lack of Mbappé. The tie had drawn controversy from the opening meeting, and that background — described in coverage as making headlines for the wrong reasons — remained part of the narrative going into the return leg. Mourinho, the context notes, relishes the chance to upset a former club.
Controversy, disciplinary action and fan reaction
The match followed a first leg in which Vinicius Jr alleged racial abuse by Gianluca Prestianni; Vinicius had scored the only goal of that game. Prestianni received a one‑match ban and missed the Bernabéu return. Home fans displayed a banner reading “no to racism” in Spanish before kick‑off, and public focus on the allegation was evident heading into the second leg. What makes this notable is how the disciplinary response and visible fan support intersected with the on‑field performance to keep attention on both justice and results.
History, records and statistical context for Real Madrid - Benfica
This was the sixth meeting between Real Madrid and Benfica in the European Cup/Champions League; Real had won the first leg, and Benfica are one of two teams Madrid have faced five or more times in the competition that they have lost more games to than they have beaten (Benfica: P? W2 L3). Real and Benfica met three times in succession this season — the group matchday fixture followed by the two play‑off legs — a first in Champions League history for three consecutive fixtures between the same sides in a single season. Additional context: Real Madrid have progressed from 22 of their last 23 UEFA Champions League knockout ties when they had won the first leg, the sole exception being the last‑16 tie with Ajax in 2018‑19. Separately, a commentator named Warnock questioned Real Madrid’s defensive “mentality” after the match.
Broadcast, kickoff time and streaming options
The second leg kicked off at 8 p. m. GMT on Feb. 25 at the Estadio Bernabéu. The match was available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player, which is geo‑restricted to Ireland; the published guidance explained that users outside Ireland could access RTÉ Player by connecting through a virtual private network. The stepwise suggestion listed subscribing to a streaming‑friendly VPN, downloading the app, connecting to an Irish server and then watching. The material noted most leading VPNs are not free but often offer free trials or money‑back guarantees; one named provider was highlighted as operating servers in 105 countries, offering apps across major devices and maintaining a strict no‑logging policy.
Vinicius’s winner completes his sixth goal in five games and sends Real Madrid into a last‑16 tie where they will face either Manchester City or Sporting CP, while Real weigh the timeline for their leading scorer’s return ahead of an important run of fixtures.
