Real Madrid advances to Champions League round of 16 with 2-1 win over Benfica
Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2-1 in the return leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, securing advancement to the round of 16.
Benfica took the lead in the 14th minute through Rafa Silva. Real Madrid equalized two minutes later with a goal from Aurélien Tchouaméni.
The match remained tight until the 80th minute, when Federico Valverde provided a precise pass to Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian forward scored the winning goal with a accurate strike.
Real Madrid had won the first leg 1-0, advancing on a 3-1 aggregate score. The team will face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the next round.
The return leg followed controversies from the first match, including allegations of racist insults against Vinícius. Carlo Ancelotti's squad nonetheless confirmed their progression to join Europe's top 16 teams.
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