Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (Feb 25, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN Skip to main content Skip to navigation ESPN NFL NFL NBA NBA NCAAM NCAAM NCAAW NCAAW MLB MLB NHL NHL Soccer Soccer More Sports More Sports Watch Watch Fantasy Fantasy Where to Watch Search Real Madrid v Benfica 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Knockout Round Playoffs Real Madrid Real Madrid RMA 2 FT Agg. 3-1 Benfica Benfica SLB 1 Aurélien Tchouaméni – 16' Vinícius Júnior – 80' Rafa Silva – 14' 2nd Leg – Real Madrid advance 3-1 on aggregate Summary Report Commentary Statistics Line-Ups Videos Real Madrid get past Benfica to reach UCL last 16 By PA Updated: Feb 25, 2026, 05:29 pm Facebook Facebook Messenger Twitter Email Vinícius Júnior took centre stage again with the winner that secured Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Benfica and safe passage to the last 16 of the Champions League. The Brazilian was the alleged target of racial abuse in the first leg against Benfica but, just as he had done in Lisbon, provided a classy finish 10 minutes from time to confirm Real’s 3-1 aggregate success. Vinícius also produced a carbon-copy celebration, running to the corner flag and doing a little jig to the delight of home fans. Rafa Silva levelled the tie from close-range after 14 minutes with Real disjointed at the back, raising thoughts of a possible upset. But Aurelien Tchouameni’s first Champions League goal two minutes later put Real back in command. The build-up to the Santiago Bernabeu clash had been dominated by the fall-out from the first leg. Vinícius alleged he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni — something the Benfica player denied — after scoring the only goal of the game. The Real forward left the field and the game was paused for 10 minutes before Vinicius returned and the match was completed. Vinícius Júnior scored Real Madrid's second goal against Benfica on Wednesday. Miguel Lemos/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images Vinícius started the second leg in a Real forward line missing Kylian Mbappé , who was ruled out with a knee injury. Prestianni had travelled to Madrid with the Benfica squad, despite being given a provisional suspension by UEFA on Monday. The Argentinian winger’s hopes of playing in the second leg when dashed on Wednesday afternoon when UEFA dismissed the Portuguese club’s appeal against the ban. Benfica began well with Thibaut Courtois alert to stop Leandro Barreiro and Rafa but the Belgium goalkeeper was soon exposed again. Courtois did brilliantly to prevent Raúl Asencio diverting Vangelis Pavlidis’ cross past him, but Rafa was on the spot to bundle the rebound in from a yard out. Parity in the tie was wiped out within two minutes as Fede Valverde broke down the right and picked out Tchouameni on the edge of the box. Tchouameni matched the intelligence of the pass with a sweeping finish into the corner of the net. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin held shots from Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius and Real had the ball in the net after 32 minutes. Arda Güler got to a loose ball before Trubin but VAR showed Goncalo Garcia, who had failed to make clean contact in front of the Turkey international, was in an offside position from Valverde’s knock-down. Courtois protected Real’s lead in the tie with an outstanding low save from Richard Ríos . After the break, Asencio headed over and Trent Alexander-Arnold fired wide before Rafa’s deflected effort clipped the Real crossbar. There was concern for Real when Asencio was taken off the field on a stretcher with what appeared to be a neck injury. But the contest was finally over when Vinícius broke into an inside-left position and opened his body up to stroke the ball clinically into the right-hand corner of Trubin’s net. Game Information Santiago Bernabéu 3:00 PM , February 25, 2026 Coverage : Paramount+ Madrid , Spain Attendance : 76,745 UEFA Champions League News Osimhen ends Juve rally to send Galatasaray through Juventus came close to completing one of the great Champions League second-leg comebacks before being eliminated by Galatasaray after extra time on Wednesday. Champions League as it happened: Gala's extra-time win over Juve caps chaotic day Galatasaray stunned Juventus and alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, are off to the round of 16 on after a wild day of Champions League action. Real Madrid get past Benfica to reach UCL last 16 With the winning goal and another corner-flag dance, Vinícius Júnior fittingly had the final say in an emotionally charged rematch with Benfica to guide Real Madrid into the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday. All UEFA Champions League News Terms of Use Privacy Policy Interest-Based Ads EU Privacy Rights Cookie Policy Manage Privacy Preferences © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
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