Real Madrid advance amid injury scare and charged Bernabéu atmosphere after 2-1 win over Benfica

The immediate impact landed on players, staff and supporters: real madrid progressed to the Champions League last 16 while coping with a serious-looking collision that sent a visiting defender to hospital. Two high-quality strikes by Tchouaméni and Vinicius settled the return leg at the Bernabéu, but the night was defined as much by stoppages, crowd tension and post-match reactions as by the scoreline.

Who felt the consequence first: players on the pitch and the travelling squad

Here's the part that matters: the match outcome advanced real madrid to the octavos, but the immediate human cost was visible. A clash between Asencio and Camavinga left the visiting centre-back removed on a stretcher with a neck brace and taken to hospital. Club staff and former players in the stands — including a high-profile ex‑player who attended the game — watched anxiously while nine minutes were added to the game clock for the stoppage.

Match details and the sequence that decided the tie

The return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu began with Madrid slow out of the blocks and Benfica pressing high. In the 14th minute a move saw Pavlidis receive the ball in space and put it across to the penalty spot; Asencio touched the ball toward his own goal, Courtois made a save but the rebound was bundled in by Rafa Silva to level the aggregate. Madrid answered later in the half when Tchouaméni struck from the edge of the box after a layback pass from Valverde. A disallowed Arda Güler goal — ruled out for an earlier offside by Gonzalo — removed a potential momentum swing before the break. In the second half Rafa Silva hit the crossbar; Vinicius then sealed the tie with a goal in the 80th minute. The final on the night read 2-1 for Madrid and 3-1 on aggregate, sending the team into the round of 16 where Manchester City or Sporting de Portugal await. The return-leg setting was described as a playoff in the Champions League calendar and took place on a Wednesday, with the round-of-16 draw scheduled for Friday this week.

Injuries, substitutions and referee decisions that shaped the closing minutes

• The collision between Asencio and Camavinga resulted in the visiting defender being stretchered off and transported to hospital; early indications in the stadium suggested a neck-area issue that does not appear grave in the provided context.
• Nine minutes of stoppage time were added to account for the time spent attending the injured player.
• Substitutions late in the game removed Gonzalo and Guler, who were replaced by Palacios and Pitarch.
• A youth-team player received a yellow card for halting a dangerous Benfica move that was developing late in the match.
• A Portuguese attacker attempted a first-time heel flick from a Schjelderup cross, a moment that nearly produced a shot on goal.

Atmosphere, reactions and the broader tension around the fixture

The Bernabéu night carried extra charge: lingering tension tied to a racism complaint from the first leg shaped the crowd's treatment of Vinicius, who was singled out by some supporters. The visiting coach was observed away from the stands during the game, with narrative detail noting he was either in the team bus or disappeared into the stadium parking at points. A former club captain made a point of attending the match to see his old side secure progression. Columnists and commentators highlighted two standout performers — Tchouaméni and Vinicius — praising the quality of their goals and their decisive impact; others criticized Prestianni for his involvement in a key defensive moment. Multiple voices called out that, while the result met minimal expectations, the team's overall performance still left questions about fluidity and confidence. One experienced club figure noted relief that the injured player was taken to hospital and hoped it would turn out to be only a scare.

It's easy to overlook, but the goalkeeper's interventions at key moments were repeatedly described as decisive for preventing Benfica from forcing extra time.

Short Q&A — practical takeaways from the night

Q: Who advances and what was the final aggregate?
A: Real Madrid advanced after a 2-1 win at the Bernabéu, completing a 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica.

Q: Is the injured defender’s condition known?
A: The player was stretchered off and taken to hospital with a neck-area concern; the available context says it does not appear grave but details may evolve.

Q: When will the round-of-16 opponents be determined?
A: The draw for the last‑16 is set for Friday this week and will decide whether Manchester City or Sporting de Portugal is the opponent.

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: the combination of an important win, a worrying injury and crowd friction means the story will continue to be followed closely as the competition moves into the knockout phase.

Columnists flagged the quality of the two match-winning strikes and noted that, despite reaching the last 16, the team’s play still generated questions about consistency heading into the draw.