Real Madrid secured a spot in the Champions League last 16 by defeating Benfica 2-1 at home, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate victory. Vinicius Jr. scored the crucial goal in the 80th minute, breaking the deadlock at Santiago Bernabeu after a tense match where both teams struggled. Benfica, led by an interim coach due to Jose Mourinho’s suspension, initially equalized the aggregate score through Rafa Silva before Real Madrid responded swiftly with a goal by Aurelien Tchouameni.
The game remained intense with chances on both sides. Despite a disallowed goal for offside and a fast-paced second half, Real Madrid faced challenges with misplaced passes, leading to a restless atmosphere among the fans. Kylian Mbappe was absent from Real Madrid’s lineup due to a knee injury, while Benfica was without Gianluca Prestianni, who was suspended following an alleged racist incident in the previous leg.
In a dramatic turn of events, Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio suffered an injury scare in the 77th minute, adding to the tension. As Benfica pressed for a goal, Federico Valverde set up Vinicius for a decisive strike, securing Real Madrid’s qualification for the next round. Real Madrid will now await the winner between Manchester City and Sporting CP in the round of 16.
Atalanta also advanced in the Champions League by eliminating Borussia Dortmund with a 4-3 aggregate win. Lazar Samardzic sealed Atalanta’s victory with a late goal in a thrilling match in Bergamo. Atalanta staged a remarkable comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the first leg, with goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta. Despite Dortmund’s efforts, including a goal by Karim Adeyemi, Atalanta secured their progress with a penalty kick in added time, resulting in red cards for multiple players.
