Real Madrid - Benfica: A win framed as a rebuke to racism that landed on the pitch and in the stands

The immediate impact of the Real Madrid - Benfica tie was felt most by players, fans and anti-racism campaigners: the result advanced Madrid to the Champions League round of 16 while the match itself became shorthand for institutional and crowd-level support for Vinicius Jr after allegations of racial abuse. That extra layer shifted how the 2-1 (3-1 aggregate) victory will be remembered for both squads and for the competition’s next phase.

Who felt the effect first — players, fans and the anti-racism message after Real Madrid - Benfica

Before a ball was kicked, a banner reading "no to racism" in Spanish was displayed in the stands, and that visible support set the tone. For Real Madrid players and supporters the win carried a mix of sporting relief and a symbolic response to the allegation that Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Vinicius Jr in the first leg. Prestianni denied the allegation, but he was later handed a one-match ban and missed the return leg; an appeal was dismissed and he was suspended by UEFA tonight.

Match snapshot and decisive moments

Real Madrid overturned a 1-0 deficit on the night to win 2-1 at the Bernabéu, sealing progress to the Champions League round of 16 with a 3-1 aggregate score. Rafa Silva tapped in for Benfica, only for Aurelien Tchouameni to sweep home two minutes later and restore the aggregate lead after Real had won the first leg 1-0. Vinicius Jr — the first-leg goalscorer — delivered the closing blow with an 80th-minute strike, curled into the bottom corner, that ultimately sealed Madrid’s place in the last 16.

Reactions in the dressing room and the stands

Aurelien Tchouameni described the result as bigger than a single game, framing it as a victory for people who stand against racism; he also scored Real’s first-half equaliser. Teammates and peers publicly underlined support: one visiting England defender noted Vinicius had been "very chilled" and "very relaxed" ahead of the fixture and stressed that Vinicius doesn't need to prove his quality, adding that he steps up when required. Former players praised Vinicius’s overall contribution — observers described his work across both legs as brilliant and highlighted the quality of his finish.

• Real players: confident and publicly supportive of Vinicius’s composure and performance.
• Fans: displayed an explicit anti-racism message before kick-off.
• Discipline: Prestianni missed the second leg due to a one-match ban and was suspended by UEFA after an appeal was dismissed.
• Crowd moment: Vinicius repeated his corner-flag dance after the second-leg goal and posted afterward that "the dance goes on" (social media paraphrase).

Injuries, disciplinary fallout and the immediate knock-on effects

Reality on the pitch included an injury scare: Madrid's Raúl Asencio was withdrawn on a stretcher after an accidental aerial clash with team-mate Eduardo Camavinga. Disciplinary action intersected with the narrative off the field — Prestianni’s denial of the alleged abuse sits alongside the one-match ban that kept him out of the return game and the UEFA suspension after an appeal was dismissed. Those decisions shaped the personnel available on the night and fed into post-match reactions.

Here’s the part that matters for the competition’s shape: the win sends Real through to the Champions League last 16, and the broader tournament picture is already taking shape. Six Premier League teams remain among the 16 sides in the 2025-26 Champions League; Atalanta is the competition’s sole Italian representative this season. The draw for the Round of 16 is set for Friday, with the knockout phase returning in March.

What progression means for draw scenarios and the wider competition

Real could be drawn against Sporting CP or face a heavyweight clash with Manchester City as the tournament moves into the business end. Historically, Real and Manchester City have a closely matched head-to-head: five wins apiece and five draws from 15 meetings that date back to 2012. Pep Guardiola’s side won the most recent meeting 2-1 in Madrid during this season’s group phase. Observers noted that, on tonight’s evidence, City would fancy their chances again unless Real get a few of their big players back from injury.

Micro timeline: • First leg: Real won 1-0, with Vinicius Jr scoring the only goal. • Return leg at the Bernabéu: Benfica led on the night before Tchouameni equalised; Vinicius sealed a 2-1 win (3-1 agg). • Aftermath: Prestianni missed the return leg due to a one-match ban; UEFA suspended him after an appeal was dismissed; Real progress to the Round of 16 and the draw is scheduled for Friday, with the last-16 ties returning in March.

It’s easy to overlook, but the match combined discrete threads — a tightly contested knockout tie, a disciplinary ruling that affected selection, a visible anti-racism message in the stadium, and a late goal that settled the tie — all of which will influence how fans and competition organisers frame the next stage.

The real question now is how the Round of 16 draw and the recovery of injured players will reshape potential matchups; if you’re wondering why this keeps coming up, it’s because this tie blended sporting consequence with off-field controversy in a way that could affect both team selection and public discussion before the next round.