Real Madrid - Benfica: Vinicius strike and Tchouameni equaliser send Madrid into Champions League last 16
The second leg between real madrid - benfica finished 2-1 at the Bernabéu as Real Madrid overturned a first-half deficit to win 3-1 on aggregate and reach the Champions League round of 16. The result arrived against a charged backdrop after allegations of racial abuse in the first leg and a one-match suspension for the accused player.
Vinicius Jr: decisive 80th-minute finish and repeated celebration
Vinicius Jr, who scored the solitary goal in the first leg, curled home a decisive strike in the 80th minute of the return tie to give Real breathing room and seal their progression. He repeated the corner-flag dance that had followed his earlier winner and later posted on social media that "the dance goes on. " Commentators praised his impact: Joe Cole called him "brilliant over both legs" with a "superb" finish, while Real's boss Alvaro Arbeloa said he reacted "with joy obviously, for the great goal he scored, and because it was him, he deserves it. "
Aurelien Tchouameni: equaliser and public stance on racism
Rafa Silva had given Benfica the lead at the Bernabéu, only for Aurelien Tchouameni to fire home two minutes later to restore Real's advantage on aggregate. Tchouameni scored the first-half equaliser and framed the victory in moral as well as sporting terms, calling it "a victory for everyone who stands against racism" and stressing that "there are more important things than this match, than football. " He also said Vinicius had kept his confidence and focus and supported the decision to bar the accused player from the return match.
Gianluca Prestianni suspension and match-day reaction
Gianluca Prestianni, whom Vinicius alleged racially abused him in the first leg, has denied the allegation. UEFA imposed a one-match ban on Prestianni after an appeal was dismissed, meaning he did not play in the return leg. Supporters showed visible solidarity with Vinicius before kick-off when a banner reading "no to racism" in Spanish was displayed in the stands.
Injury and on-field collision: Raul Asencio stretchered off
The night also featured an accidental aerial clash that left Raul Asencio withdrawn on a stretcher following contact with team-mate Eduardo Camavinga. The collision required immediate medical attention and forced Asencio from the field, interrupting the flow of the match.
Champions League context: round of 16, draw and continental balance
The tie completed Real Madrid's passage into the Champions League round of 16, where 16 teams now remain in the competition. Six of those teams come from the Premier League, while Atalanta stands as the sole Italian representative this season. The draw for the round of 16 is scheduled ahead of the knockout fixtures, which return in March.
Discussion about potential opponents has already begun: Real might face Sporting CP or could be drawn against Manchester City. Historical head-to-heads between Real and City show five wins apiece and five draws from 15 meetings since 2012, and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City won the most recent meeting 2-1 in Madrid in this season's group phase. Observers noted that Real's prospects in the next round could hinge on regaining some of their injured key players.
What makes this notable is how the result intertwined footballing consequence with off-field controversy: the disciplinary action that sidelined Prestianni directly affected squad selection for the return leg, supporters staged an anti-racism message before kick-off, and two match-winning contributions on the pitch produced a clear sporting outcome. Real Madrid progress 3-1 on aggregate and into the last 16, while the incident that preceded the tie continues to shape reactions around the club and competition.
