Vinícius Nets Critical Winner as Real Madrid Seal Champions League Last 16 Berth Against Benfica

Key Takeaways:

• Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Benfica last night, advancing 3-1 on aggregate to reach the UEFA Champions League last 16
• Vinícius Júnior delivered the decisive goal, while Aurélien Tchouaméni also found the net for the hosts
• Benfica have now been knocked out after losing the first leg at home in eight of their last nine European knockout ties

Overview and Aggregate Scoreline

Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over S.L. Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu, ensuring a 3-1 aggregate triumph and extending their winning streak at home in the competition to seven matches.

First Half: Early Setback and Swift Response

The aftermath of last week’s opening leg, overshadowed by an incident involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni which resulted in Prestianni’s suspension, remained a prevailing narrative. On the pitch, the tie soon sprang to life as the visitors pulled level on aggregate in the 14th minute. Rafa Silva gave Benfica a deserved lead after Raúl Asencio met Vangelis Pavlidis’ cut-back. While Thibaut Courtois managed to keep out Asencio’s initial effort, Silva capitalised on the rebound to score.

Real Madrid responded through Aurélien Tchouaméni, who produced a superb one-touch finish after latching onto Federico Valverde’s inviting cross. The hosts thought they had seized the advantage when Arda Güler netted from close range, only for VAR to intervene for a narrow offside call.

The opening period maintained a frenetic pace, with Courtois coming to Real’s rescue by thwarting Richard Ríos’ goalbound effort towards the end of an intense first half.

HALA MADRID 🫂❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/encM1T6wGM

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 25, 2026

Second Half: Dramatic Decider and Injury Blow

The end-to-end action continued following the break, as Trent Alexander-Arnold drove into the box, firing narrowly off-target, while Rafa Silva’s deflected attempt clipped the crossbar. Real Madrid endured anxious moments when Pavlidis’ attempt shaved the outside of the post.

A sombre moment followed as Raúl Asencio was forced off on a stretcher after a collision with Eduardo Camavinga. With the tie finely poised, Vinícius Júnior stepped up for the hosts, racing onto a Valverde through ball and expertly steering a right-footed finish past Trubin, restoring Madrid’s lead and putting the tie beyond Benfica’s reach.

Yet, Benfica pressed on, with Silva almost flicking in an Andreas Schjelderup cross at the far post, only for Álvaro Carreras to intervene at the last moment.

Ultimately, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side accomplished the job, continuing their unbroken sequence of Champions League last 16 appearances dating back to the 1996/97 season.

Managerial and Historical Notes

José Mourinho’s wait for a Champions League knockout victory continued, as he saw his team fall short for the 10th straight time in these rounds (four draws, six losses). Benfica’s struggles after first-leg home defeats persisted, having now been eliminated on eight of their last nine such occasions in European knockout ties.

Key Match Statistics