LISBON — Three weeks after suffering a memorable 4-2 defeat at the hands of Benfica, Real Madrid returned to the Estadio da Luz. However, this time it was a different match, with a different atmosphere and outcome.
Gone was the dramatic last-minute headed goal by a goalkeeper and the emotional tears of Benfica’s manager, José Mourinho. Instead, Madrid secured a well-earned 1-0 advantage heading back to the Bernabéu for the second leg of the playoff.
During their return to Lisbon, Madrid appeared to be transformed. “We witnessed a completely different Real Madrid,” said coach Álvaro Arbeloa post-match. The team displayed more composed and controlled play, in stark contrast to their previous chaotic performance.
Having learned from their earlier defeat that knocked them out of the Champions League’s top eight, Madrid arrived well-prepared for this encounter.
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However, the game was marked by notable emotional extremes. This was particularly evident with Vinícius Júnior‘s spectacular goal in the 50th minute, which was followed by a 10-minute stoppage after he accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racial abuse, prompting the referee to activate UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
This incident cast a shadow over the match and became a focal point of post-game discussions. “This should not happen,” stated Aurélien Tchouaméni. Kylian Mbappé expressed that Prestianni “doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League again.” Arbeloa remarked that the team would have supported Vinicius in leaving the pitch had he requested it.
In contrast to the previous matchup, Mourinho was not celebrating at the end of the game, having received a red card for arguing with the referee late in the second half. After the final whistle, he criticized Vinicius’ goal celebration. In January, Mourinho orchestrated a victory that highlighted Madrid’s vulnerabilities, but now it was Arbeloa’s opportunity to shine.
The disciple of Mourinho learned from their previous encounter and crafted his strategy accordingly. Real Madrid adopted a compact 4-4-2 formation, with Eduardo Camavinga shielding left-back Álvaro Carreras and Federico Valverde doing the same for right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Unlike their January performance, there was no hint of underestimating Benfica.
Prior to kick-off, Benfica sought to create an atmosphere reminiscent of their recent shock win. As the stadium lights dimmed, a video showcased Anatoliy Trubin‘s memorable 98th-minute header, accompanied by images of Mourinho’s poignant reaction.
A massive banner of the club’s emblematic eagle was displayed on one side of the pitch, adorned with the words: “Until the end.” Trubin’s late goal had propelled Benfica into the knockout stages, and they would need that indomitable spirit to face off against Real Madrid, the champions of Europe, over two playoff legs.
Benfica started robustly, energizing their supporters. However, as the first half progressed, Madrid began to assert their dominance. Vinicius, Mbappé, and Arda Güler came close to scoring, with the standout moment of the half being a spectacular save by Thibaut Courtois denying Fredrik Aursnes with a full-stretch effort.
By halftime, Madrid’s momentum suggested that a goal was imminent. When it finally came, its quality exceeded expectations as Vinicius cut in from the left and curled a superb shot over Trubin into the top corner.
Vinicius celebrated with a dance by the corner flag. Despite having had an inconsistent season and ongoing contract talks, he has now scored in three consecutive matches and continues to prove himself as one of the most impactful players in crucial moments, exemplified by his stunning goal in the Supercopa de España against Barcelona.
Following that goal, the game lost its earlier rhythm. The match was paused, and the focus shifted almost entirely to Vinicius’ incident and the resulting discussions.
“Up until the goal, it was a thrilling match,” Mourinho remarked afterward. “After that, the match was effectively over.” Because of his red card, he will not be able to coach from the sidelines during the return leg at the Bernabéu next week.
Real Madrid will head into that match as the favorites to advance to the Round of 16, their sense of superiority clear, even more so than Tuesday’s 1-0 scoreline might suggest. Benfica’s earlier triumph seems to be a one-off that they will struggle to replicate.