Player Ratings: Vinicius...

Real Madrid achieved a crucial win against Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, showcasing a solid performance.

Thibaut Courtois – 7

Made an essential early save to deny Fredrik Aursnes, having a relatively quiet evening overall.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7

Almost assisted Kylian Mbappe for the opening goal and effectively controlled possession as Real Madrid settled into the game. However, he appeared somewhat passive defensively in the first half.

Antonio Rudiger – 7.5

Rudiger delivered a dependable performance, showing his usual commitment and providing much-needed solidity to the defense.

Dean Huijsen – 8

Displayed a return to form, intervening effectively to reclaim possession before it reached Vangelos Pavlidis and demonstrating composure with the ball without errors.

Alvaro Carreras – 7

Had a solid outing, balancing his role in providing width on the left while supporting Vinicius in advanced positions and Eduardo Camavinga in midfield.

Arda Guler – 7.5

Real Madrid’s standout player in the first half, Guler was instrumental in creating opportunities with incisive passes and even forced a save from Anatoliy Trubin. However, he faded slightly in the second half as the game opened up.

Fede Valverde – 6.5

Showed promise with a few effective runs through the middle and supported Alexander-Arnold on the right. Still, he seems to struggle to find his place in the attacking setup, although he worked hard defensively.

Aurelien Tchouameni – 8.5

Named man of the match by UEFA, Tchouameni excelled in disrupting Benfica’s attacks through the center, asserting his presence more effectively than usual.

Player Ratings: Vinicius…