Real Madrid Advances to Champions League Last 16, Vinicius Jr. Scores Decisive Goal
Published February 26, 2026 | 247sports.news
Madrid Overcomes Benfica in Playoff Clash
Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Benfica on Wednesday night, completing a 3-1 aggregate win. Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr. Found the back of the net for Real, whereas Rafa Silva scored for Benfica.
Real Madrid will now face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the next round of the competition.
Match Recap: A Hard-Fought Victory
Benfica took an early lead in the 14th minute when Rafa Silva capitalized on a rebound. However, Real Madrid responded quickly, leveling the score just two minutes later through Aurelien Tchouameni.
⚽GOAL
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (agg 2-1)
An instant response from the hosts as Tchouameni fires home with a fine finish
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The game remained competitive until the 80th minute when Vinicius Jr. Scored the decisive goal, effectively ending Benfica’s hopes.
⚽GOAL
Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (agg 3-1)
Vini Junior continues his scoring streak with a cool finish and Madrid look well-placed now to advance
📺Live Champions League coverage on @rte2 and @RTEplayer
📱Play-off round updates https://t.co/Enr4MLkVfG
The winning goal came after Valverde won possession in midfield and delivered a precise pass to Vinicius, who beat the offside trap and slotted the ball into the far corner.
Context Surrounding the Match
This match followed a week of controversy, as Vinicius Jr. Had previously alleged racist abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in the first leg. Prestianni denies the allegation.
Real Madrid fans displayed banners of support for Vinicius before kickoff at the Santiago Bernabeu, with messages such as No to racism
and Respect
being prominently displayed.
Jose Mourinho, Benfica’s coach, was absent from the dugout due to a suspension, marking his first return to the Santiago Bernabeu since managing Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013.
FAQ
- Who scored for Real Madrid? Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr.
- Who scored for Benfica? Rafa Silva.
- What is the aggregate score? Real Madrid won 3-1 on aggregate.
- Who will Real Madrid play in the next round? Either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon.