Real Madrid - Benfica: Vinicius Dance, Tchouameni Equaliser and a Night Declared 'For Everyone Who Stands Against Racism'
In the real madrid - benfica clash at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid recovered from going behind to win 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League round of 16, a result described by Aurelien Tchouameni as a victory for everyone who stands against racism. The tie combined footballing drama, an on-pitch injury scare and a highly charged off-pitch controversy that kept one player out of the return leg.
Real Madrid - Benfica: the key moments
Benfica opened the scoring when Rafa Silva tapped in to give the visitors the lead on the night. Two minutes later Aurelien Tchouameni swept home to level the match and restore his side's aggregate advantage; Tchouameni's strike came in the first half and was followed by another decisive contribution later in the game. Vinicius Jr, who had scored the lone goal in the first leg, curled a finish into the bottom corner in the 80th minute to seal progression to the last 16 and put Real Madrid 3-1 up across the two legs.
Vinicius Jr, the celebration and the reaction
Vinicius Jr celebrated the first-leg winner by dancing near the corner flag, then repeated that same celebration after his 80th-minute strike in the return leg. He posted on social media that "the dance goes on. " Team-mates and former players praised his performances over both legs, with one former forward calling his finishing superb. England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold described Vinicius as calm and focused ahead of the match, saying he was "very chilled" and "very relaxed" and that the player steps up when needed and already knows his own quality. Real Madrid's boss Alvaro Arbeloa said he reacted with joy at the great goal and insisted Vinicius deserved the moment.
Racism allegation, Prestianni's absence and fan messages
Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg; Prestianni has denied the allegation. Prestianni was handed a one-match ban and missed the Wednesday return leg. Later developments saw Prestianni suspended by UEFA after an appeal was dismissed. Support for Vinicius was visible before kick-off when home fans displayed a banner with the words "no to racism" in Spanish.
Injury scare and substitutions
The night also featured a worrying injury incident when Raul Asencio was withdrawn on a stretcher after an accidental aerial clash with team-mate Eduardo Camavinga. The clash was described as accidental, and the immediate removal of Asencio on a stretcher underscored the physical risk present in aerial duels.
What this means in the wider Champions League picture
Real Madrid's progression brings the competition to the round of 16 stage. Sixteen teams remain in the 2025-26 Champions League, six of them from the Premier League. Italy is represented by just one club this season, with Atalanta their sole entrant in the last 16. The draw for the round of 16 is scheduled for Friday, and the knockout phase returns in March after a couple of weeks of play-off ties.
The draw could set up high-profile ties: Real Madrid might face Sporting CP or Manchester City. Historical head-to-head figures between Real and Manchester City show parity over their meetings — five wins each and five draws from 15 encounters dating back to 2012. The most recent meeting referenced saw Pep Guardiola's side win 2-1 in Madrid in the group phase, a result that informs expectations for a potential encounter unless Real get some of their big players back from injury.
Perspectives and what comes next
Players and commentators highlighted the emotional and symbolic weight of the tie as much as the on-field outcome. Aurelien Tchouameni framed the victory as standing for more than football, calling it a victory for those who oppose racism and praising the decision not to let the accused player participate in the return leg. While progression to the round of 16 is settled, the match leaves open questions about disciplinary follow-up and squad fitness ahead of the March knockout calendar. Details may evolve as governing bodies and clubs handle outstanding disciplinary and medical matters.
