Real Madrid - Benfica: Win cast as a stand against racism as Vinicius and Tchouameni fire Madrid into Champions League last 16
The Real Madrid - Benfica tie landed, at least for some of those closest to it, as more than a result: a moment that foregrounded players, fans and anti-racism activists. Vinicius Jr and Aurelien Tchouameni supplied the decisive goals that carried Madrid through to the Champions League last 16, while a suspended opponent and a prominent anti-racism banner ensured the fixture played out with extra social significance for the club and its supporters.
Real Madrid - Benfica: immediate impact on players, fans and the narrative
Here's the part that matters for those watching beyond the scoreline: Vinicius Jr's finishes and the presence of a stadium banner reading "no to racism" in Spanish made the victory resonate as a symbolic win for those opposing racial abuse. Home supporters gave visible backing before kick-off, and the absence of Gianluca Prestianni from the return leg — after disciplinary action — altered both selection and the public conversation around the two legs.
Match essentials and turning points
Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2-1 at the Bernabeu, advancing 3-1 on aggregate to the Champions League round of 16. Benfica took a 1-0 lead on the night through a Rafa Silva tap-in, but Aurelien Tchouameni swept home two minutes later to level and restore Madrid's aggregate advantage following a 1-0 result in the first leg. Vinicius Jr then curled a strike into the bottom corner in the 80th minute to seal progress.
Earlier in the game, Real's Raul Asencio had to be withdrawn on a stretcher after an accidental aerial clash with teammate Eduardo Camavinga; the incident interrupted play and required medical attention. The first-leg winner had also been Vinicius Jr, who celebrated then and repeated a corner-flag dance after his late strike in the return match; he later shared on social media that the celebration would continue in spirit.
Disciplinary developments and squad availability
Gianluca Prestianni, who has denied racially abusing Vinicius during the first leg, was handed a one-match ban and missed the return fixture. An appeal was dismissed and UEFA suspended him tonight, a sequence that removed him from selection for this decisive match and fed into the pre-game focus on racism and discipline.
Voices from the pitch and dugout
Aurelien Tchouameni framed the result as bigger than football, underlining the broader stakes he saw in the tie and praising his teammate's focus. England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold described Vinicius as calm and composed ahead of the game, noting the forward does not need to prove his quality and steps up in key moments. Former players in the broadcaster mix praised Vinicius for strong performances across both legs and lauded his finishing, while the Real Madrid boss expressed clear joy at the goal and its scorer's merit.
Where this leaves the Champions League picture
The win sends Real Madrid into the last 16 of the 2025-26 Champions League, part of a field of 16 teams that includes six clubs from the Premier League — the first time England has reached that level with six representatives. Italy now has a single entrant, Atalanta, contrasting with an era from 2005 to 2012 when three Italian clubs regularly reached the last 16.
Real could draw Sporting CP or potentially Manchester City in the next phase; if single matches are taken in isolation rather than two-legged ties, Real and City are deadlocked in their head-to-heads with five wins each and five draws from 15 meetings dating back to 2012. The most recent meeting was a 2-1 win for Pep Guardiola's side in Madrid earlier this season. The last 16 returns in March, moving the competition into its knockout phase.
It’s easy to overlook, but the combination of visible fan messaging and UEFA discipline altered how both legs were perceived on and off the pitch.
If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: the on-field moments — two match-winning finishes and an equaliser — were inseparable this week from off-field actions, including the disciplinary outcome and the pre-match banner that framed the game for many fans and players.
Key groups affected include Vinicius Jr and his teammates, supporters who displayed public anti-racism messaging, Benfica and the player disciplined who denied the allegation, and tournament organizers dealing with the disciplinary appeal. The real test will be how these conversations and disciplinary precedents influence conduct and selection in the Champions League knockout rounds beginning in March.
Writer's aside: What's easy to miss is how a single match can amplify wider issues; in this case, finishing touches on the pitch and formal rulings off it combined to shape the story as much as the final scoreline.
