Real Madrid defeated Benfica 3-1 on aggregate to reach the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 as Vinicius Junior scored a decisive goal after first-leg controversy. Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa praised Vini’s impact after the match. Aurelien Tchouameni also starred with an equaliser after Benfica took an early lead.
Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2-1 on Wednesday night and 3-1 on aggregate to book their place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. But the score does not tell the full story of how dramatic the match was.
Benfica started strongly and shocked the home crowd in the 14th minute. Rafa Silva scored the opener. However, the response from Madrid was immediate. Just two minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni scored with a precise shot from the edge. The goal restored Madrid’s aggregate lead and brought life back to Bernabeu.
Arda Guler scored in the 32nd minute, but the goal was disallowed for a very close offside. Benfica kept fighting and even hit the crossbar later in the second half. Madrid also suffered a big blow when Raul Asencio had to be taken off on a stretcher after a painful aerial clash with teammate Eduardo Camavinga.
Then came the moment that many were waiting for. Vinicus Junior’s revenge moment after
all the controversy and tension from the first leg. In the 80th minute, Federico Valverde provided a perfect assist to Vini Jr on the counterattack. The Brazilian winger curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1. It was his second goal of the tie, after scoring the winner in the first leg as well.
This goal felt special because Vinicius had alleged that he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in the first leg, an accusation that Prestianni denied.
UEFA later suspended Prestianni for this match after his appeal was dismissed. With everything that happened, Vinicius’ goal felt like a revenge on the pitch.
Real Madrid coach praises Vini Jr
After the match, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa praised the Brazilian star. He said Vinicius deserved the goal and highlighted how important he has become for the team, especially in the absence of Kylian Mbappe.
“I’m happy for the great goal he scored, because he deserves it and for the form he’s in. Without Mbappé, he is even more important, and I’m very happy for him because I think he truly deserves it,” Arbeloa said after the match.
Meanwhile, Tchouameni, who was named Man of the Match, also spoke after the match. He said the team did not start well but always believed they would score. He added that the squad must defend better and start games stronger in the future.
“The truth is, we didn’t start the match very well, but we had the confidence that we would score goals. Then we did things a little better. Those who came on later and the young players from Castilla contributed very well to the match. Now we will keep moving forward. We need to adjust a bit how we defend and start matches better. In the end, we won, which is the most important thing,” Tchouameni said.
Real Madrid will now wait to see if they will face Sporting CP or Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16, the draw for which will take place on Friday.
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