Real Madrid Vs Benfica — Tchouaméni Calls Victory 'For Everyone Who Stands Against Racism' as Vinicius Decisive

Here’s the part that matters: the match outcome landed beyond sport for several people directly involved — Vinicius Júnior, teammates, and supporters who demanded a stance against abuse. Real Madrid Vs Benfica produced a 3-1 aggregate finish that players framed as a moral as well as a competitive win, with Aurélien Tchouaméni describing progress to the last 16 as a “victory for everyone who stands against racism. ”

Real Madrid Vs Benfica: who felt the impact and how

The immediate impact was personal and public: Vinicius Júnior, who had alleged racial abuse in the first leg, scored the decisive goal in the return fixture and repeated his corner-flag dance. Teammates rallied; fans displayed Spanish-language banners reading “no to racism” before kick-off and messages including “No to racism” and “Respect” were read out as the teams took the field. Players and staff treated the outcome as both sporting qualification and a public response to the prior allegations.

Match details embedded in context

The tie finished 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. Benfica opened the return at the Bernabéu when Rafa Silva levelled the tie after 14 minutes. Aurélien Tchouaméni then restored Madrid's advantage with a powerful strike from distance in the first half; Vinicius Júnior sealed the victory with a run and finish roughly ten minutes from full time, celebrated in the same corner-flag dance he used after his first-leg goal in Lisbon. The club progressed to the Champions League last 16.

• Vinicius scored in both legs (first leg in Lisbon; return match at the Bernabéu/Santiago Bernabéu).
• Tchouaméni scored Madrid's equaliser on the night and collected player of the match honours for a second successive Champions League game; it was described as his first goal of the season.
• The final scoreline: 2-1 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate; Real will face either Sporting Lisbon or Man City in the last 16.

Players' and coaches' reactions

Aurélien Tchouaméni framed the result as larger than football, saying there are “more important things than the match” and calling the outcome a victory for all who oppose racism. He also praised Vinicius’s focus and confidence. Real Madrid and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold described Vinicius as "very chilled" and "very relaxed" before the game, saying the forward didn’t need to score to prove anything but did so when it mattered. A former Chelsea forward on television described Vinicius as "brilliant over both legs, " while the Real Madrid boss reacted with joy, saying the goal and the scorer deserved celebration. Vinicius later posted on social media that "the dance goes on. "

Disciplinary arc and the suspended player

Gianluca Prestianni was at the centre of the off-field controversy: he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius in the first leg and has denied the allegation. UEFA imposed a provisional one-match suspension that ruled him out of the return fixture; the player travelled with the Benfica squad but did not play after a last-minute appeal by Benfica was dismissed. Club representatives denied the allegation, while the Benfica president stated the club would not "permit a racist player within the squad. " A UEFA statement noted that the player remains provisionally suspended for the next eligible UEFA club match.

Implications, affected groups and signals to watch

• Implication: The tie served as a focal point for anti-racism messaging among players, staff and fans, with visible stadium banners and public comments from teammates.
• Affected groups: Vinicius Júnior (player directly involved), teammates like Tchouaméni and others who offered support, match-goers who displayed banners, and the suspended player who did not participate.
• Signals that could confirm the next turn: any formal updates to the provisional suspension or disciplinary outcome, and the identity of Real Madrid's round-of-16 opponent (Sporting Lisbon or Man City) shaping the next competitive focus.

It’s easy to overlook, but the match combined a sporting milestone — progress to the last 16 — with an intensified public stance against alleged misconduct. The real question now is how the disciplinary process and upcoming fixtures will further define this episode for the players and clubs involved.

A brief aside from the editor: the combination of on-field moments and off-field disciplinary steps makes this fixture feel like more than a standard two-legged tie; that overlap is where both emotion and formal review will continue to meet.