Vinicius hits winner as Real Madrid eliminate Benfica from Champions League
Al Jazeera
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a thrilling 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica, thanks in large part to Vinicius Jr.'s decisive goal. The match, held at Santiago Bernabeu, was overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse directed at Vinicius from a Benfica fan, which the club denies. Despite the tension, Madrid fought back from an early deficit, with Aurelien Tchouameni leveling in the first half and Vinicius delivering the winner in the 80th minute with a composed finish. Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, who had led Real Madrid previously but was suspended for this match, saw his Benfica side struggle to contain their opponents.
The game started with Benfica taking a deserved lead through Rafa Silva after 14 minutes, capitalizing on Madrid's defensive miscues. However, Madrid responded swiftly through Tchouameni, who converted from the edge of the box following Federico Valverde's cross. Despite being reduced to 10 men due to an injury to Raul Asencio, Madrid maintained pressure and relied on Thibaut Courtois's crucial saves to stay in contention. The turning point came when Vinicius broke the deadlock, finishing a through ball from Valverde with precision.
The match also highlighted the broader context of Champions League dynamics, as other teams like Galatasaray, Atalanta, and PSG advanced in their respective fixtures. Madrid's progression underscores their resilience and ability to navigate high-stakes matches, even under challenging circumstances such as Mourinho's absence and the lingering effects of the racial abuse incident.
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/25/2026