Real Madrid have marched into the Champions League quarter-finals following a poignant 2-1 victory over Benfica. The Spanish giants secured a 3-1 aggregate win on an emotional night at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, the football felt secondary to the powerful message sent by the home supporters and players. Fans displayed a massive “no to racism” banner to support forward Vinicius Jr before kick-off.
The Brazilian international recently alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him during the first leg. UEFA officials subsequently handed Prestianni a one-match suspension, forcing him to miss this decisive return fixture. Consequently, the atmosphere remained charged as Madrid sought to uphold their slender one-goal advantage from Lisbon. Despite the pressure, the reigning champions displayed remarkable composure throughout a testing continental encounter.
Benfica initially threatened an upset by taking a shock lead on the night to level the aggregate score. Nevertheless, Aurélien Tchouaméni restored parity with a thunderous first-half equaliser to settle the Madrid nerves. The French midfielder later dedicated the result to everyone fighting discrimination within the global game. He insisted that the right decision was made regarding the disciplinary actions taken against Prestianni.
Clinical Vinicius Seals Quarter-Final Spot Amidst Adversity
Vinicius Jr eventually settled the tie in the 80th minute with a characteristically clinical finish. He celebrated by dancing near the corner flag, repeating his defiant gesture from the first leg. This goal ensured Los Blancos avoided any late drama against their spirited Portuguese opponents. Meanwhile, teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold praised the winger’s relaxed mentality despite the intense scrutiny of the past week.
The England defender noted that Vinicius remains focused on his football rather than external distractions. Crucially, manager Alvaro Arbeloa echoed these sentiments, highlighting the forward’s resilience under immense personal pressure. Real Madrid have once again proven their ability to thrive during high-stakes European knockout football. They now await the quarter-final draw as they pursue a record-extending fifteenth European Cup title.
However, the victory came at a significant cost for Arbeloa’s attacking options. Kylian Mbappé missed the match entirely after sustaining a knee injury during a recent training session. Early medical reports suggest the French captain faces a spell on the sidelines during a vital period. Doctors advised the striker to rest to ensure a full recovery for the upcoming domestic stretch. Regardless, the night belonged to Vinicius Jr as he continues to lead Madrid’s charge on the pitch.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.