MADRID — The Bernabéu witnessed a match without Gianluca Prestianni and no José Mourinho, yet Vinícius Junior was the standout performer.
Prestianni was absent due to a suspension related to UEFA’s investigation into allegations that the Benfica winger had racially abused Vinícius in the first leg of the tie, while Mourinho was serving a touchline ban upon returning to his former club. In their absence, Vinícius shone by scoring the decisive goal in the 80th minute to help Real Madrid secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, winning the match 2-1 and the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Although Madrid didn’t deliver a commanding performance and fell short of the standard set in the previous week’s match in Lisbon, Vinícius’s form remained unshaken. Following his impressive goal in the 1-0 victory at Estadio da Luz, which he later claimed was preceded by racial slurs from Prestianni, he netted another crucial goal in the Spanish capital.
Receiving a pass from Federico Valverde, Vinícius easily outran the Benfica defense and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Afterwards, he celebrated by mimicking the goal celebration that Mourinho had criticized in the previous match, beaming with joy.
Vinícius has now scored in five consecutive games for Real Madrid, marking his finest run of form this season and matching his personal best scoring streak. Under new coach Álvaro Arbeloa, he’s blossomed, having scored as many goals in just 10 matches as he did in 33 appearances under Xabi Alonso, whose tenure was cut short in part due to tensions with Vinícius.
This resurgence is a significant boost for Madrid, especially considering Vinícius’s critical role in their last two Champions League triumphs in 2022 and 2024. However, it may be the only bright spot in an otherwise challenging time for the team.
Defensively, Madrid lacked organization and coherence against a Benfica side that, regardless of its current struggles, proved to be a challenging opponent. Benfica sits in third place in the Portuguese league and entered the match with six European defeats this season. Yet, they pushed Madrid hard over the two legs.
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During the match, Benfica created nine opportunities and had 12 shots, achieving an xG (expected goals) of 1.98, which surpassed Madrid’s 1.11. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois showcased his skills by making four saves, including a standout stop against Richard Ríos in the first half.
With Kylian Mbappé sidelined due to an ongoing knee issue — a situation Arbeloa indicated would not resolve in just a few days — and Jude Bellingham unavailable until early April, Madrid is dependent on Vinícius to deliver exceptional performances. And over these two legs, he certainly did.
Before the match at the Bernabéu, fans raised a banner reading “No to Racism” in support of Vinícius as Benfica’s traveling supporters loudly whistled whenever he touched the ball.
It was a tough challenge for Benfica right back Amar Dedic. From the opening whistle, Vinícius demonstrated focus and menace, nearly scoring just six minutes in after a slick interplay with Arda Güler slipped him behind the defense.
Vinícius’s influence continued as he delivered a cross that led to a disallowed goal for Güler shortly before the half-hour mark. He later made another driving run, beating Dedic and delivering a dangerous ball across the six-yard box before eventually scoring his goal in the 80th minute, solidifying Madrid’s aggregate lead at 3-1. A season that started with doubts about his place in the starting XI and a dry spell of three months without a goal might just see him rise to prominence again.
“[Vinícius] had an excellent game,” Arbeloa remarked to Movistar afterward. “He was a constant threat, scored, and remained dangerous. We really need him, especially now without Kylian. He must step up as our leader.”
On Friday, Madrid will learn whether they will face Manchester City or Sporting CP in the round of 16. City is a familiar opponent, having faced them in five of the last six seasons.
“Whoever we draw, it will be a challenge,” Arbeloa concluded. “But facing City would undoubtedly be the true test.”