Raul Asencio carted off as Real Madrid advance after tense clash with Camavinga
Real Madrid secured a place in the Champions League Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Benfica that produced a 3-1 aggregate win, but the night was overshadowed when raul asencio was stretchered off following a heavy collision with teammate Eduardo Camavinga. The defender was taken to hospital for further evaluation, though coach Alvaro Arbeloa expressed hope the injury would not be serious.
Raul Asencio stretchered off after collision with Eduardo Camavinga
Asencio, a Real Madrid centre back, went down in the second half of the return leg of the play-off tie after a clash with Eduardo Camavinga. Medics attended to the La Fabrica product for five minutes before placing him on a stretcher and carrying him off the pitch. He was substituted for David Alaba with a quarter of an hour remaining in the second leg against Benfica and Spanish television then showed him being taken to hospital for more evaluation.
Alvaro Arbeloa describes injury and offers reassurance
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that Asencio had been sent to hospital after suffering a blow to the head. Arbeloa said it "looks like something with the neck, it doesn’t seem serious" and added: "He has gone to the hospital, hopefully it is just a scare. The blow has been tremendous, our stomachs have shrunk. But it looks like it’s going to be nothing. " The manager’s assessment prompted a measured reaction from the squad and staff while medical checks were carried out.
Match progression: Tchouameni equaliser and eventual 3-1 aggregate
Real Madrid had to battle early in the fixture but improved after half‑time, Arbeloa said, with Aurelien Tchouameni scoring the equaliser that proved pivotal on the night. Arbeloa praised Tchouameni’s form, calling his goal "very important" and saying the midfielder was at a "spectacular level, " adding that it could be the first of many goals for him.
Vinicius Jr. strike follows injury and seals advancement
Just minutes after Asencio’s injury, Vinicius Jr. scored to make the match 2-1 and confirm a 3-1 aggregate success that booked Real Madrid’s place in the Champions League Round of 16. Arbeloa underlined Vinicius’s impact, saying he had "played a great game, very unbalanced, scoring goals, creating danger" and stressing that with Kylian Mbappe absent the forward must be a leader and a reference for the side.
Antonio Rudiger treated earlier, Mbappe omitted from squad
The clash that forced Asencio off came moments after team‑mate Antonio Rudiger was tended to by medics following an accidental collision with Alvaro Carreras. Arbeloa also clarified the situation with Kylian Mbappe, who dropped out of the squad at the last minute; the coach said he "can’t say the difference between discomfort and injury, " that "the best thing was to stop and recover, " and that Mbappe "can’t play" but the club hopes he will return "in a few days or weeks. "
What makes this notable is the way Real Madrid navigated immediate medical scares to secure qualification: a defender stretchered off and an earlier defensive knock did not prevent the side from overturning early difficulties to progress in Europe.
The club advances to the Champions League Round of 16 with a 2-1 win on the night and a 3-1 aggregate scoreline, while Raul Asencio remains under hospital evaluation and the coaching staff monitor Mbappe’s recovery timeframe.
