Vinicuis gets his revenge as Real Madrid knock Benfica out of Champions League

Vinicius Jr sealed Real Madrid's 3-1 win with a decisive late goal against Benfica. Days after off-field controversy, the Brazilian shifted the focus back to football and guided Madrid into the Champions League Round of 16.

Vinicius Jr did what he does best. He made the moment about football again.

Just days after being dragged into a racism row in Lisbon, the Real Madrid forward stepped up with the decisive strike that ended Benfica’s resistance and carried Madrid into the Round of 16. The 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory, but it was Vinicius’ late intervention that shaped the narrative of the night.

The build-up to the return leg had been dominated by the fallout from the first meeting in Portugal, where Vinicius had accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of using discriminatory language. With Prestianni suspended and Jose Mourinho missing from the touchline after his red card, the focus finally swung back to the tactical battle on the pitch.

Benfica came out with intent and struck early through Rafa Silva in the 14th minute after Madrid failed to clear their lines inside the box.

Madrid responded with purpose. Federico Valverde surged down the right and squared the ball into the half-space for Aurelien Tchouameni, who timed his arrival perfectly before guiding the finish from the edge of the area.

The contest remained stretched through the second half. Benfica continued to find space between the lines and even rattled the crossbar, while Madrid struggled to impose sustained control in possession.