UEFA Champions League

FT Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Benfica DWWLW 1
–
Real Madrid WWWWL 2
1st2ndT
SLB101
RMA112
2nd Leg - Real Madrid advance 3-1 on aggregate · Santiago Bernabéu · 76,745 att. · Paramount+

Match Report

Miguel Lemos/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images

Real Madrid get past Benfica to reach UCL last 16

With the winning goal and another corner-flag dance, Vinícius Júnior fittingly had the final say in an emotionally charged rematch with Benfica to guide Real Madrid into the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Full story at ESPN →

Team Stats

10
Fouls
16
2
Yellow Cards
2
0
Red Cards
0
0
Offsides
2
7
Corner Kicks
4
2
Saves
4
44.2
Possession
55.8
12
SHOTS
14
4
ON GOAL
4
0.3
On Target %
0.3
0
Penalty Goals
0
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
0
381
Accurate Passes
516
441
Passes
573
0.9
Pass Completion %
0.9
5
Accurate Crosses
2
20
Crosses
10
0.3
Cross %
0.2
36
Long Balls
46
17
Accurate Long Balls
23
0.5
Long Balls %
0.5
5
Blocked Shots
4
7
Effective Tackles
6
16
Tackles
15
0.4
Tackle %
0.4
6
Interceptions
7
20
Effective Clearances
18
20
Clearances
18

Highlights

01:52 Burley: Real Madrid don't look like they can win the Champions League Watch on ESPN 00:54 Arbeloa: It was a joy to see Vinícius Júnior dancing again vs. Benfica Watch on ESPN

Head to Head

Series tied 1-1

Lineups

RMA · 4-4-2

  1. 1Thibaut CourtoisG
  2. 22Antonio RüdigerCD-L
  3. 17Raúl AsencioCD-R
  4. 18Álvaro CarrerasLB
  5. 12Trent Alexander-ArnoldRB
  6. 14Aurélien TchouaméniCM-L
  7. 15Arda GülerCM-R
  8. 6Eduardo CamavingaLM
  9. 8Federico ValverdeRM
  10. 7Vinícius JúniorCF-L
  11. 16Gonzalo GarcíaCF-R

SLB · 4-2-3-1

  1. 1Anatoliy TrubinG
  2. 30Nicolás OtamendiCD-L
  3. 44Tomás AraújoCD-R
  4. 26Samuel DahlLB
  5. 17Amar DedicRB
  6. 27Rafa SilvaAM
  7. 8Fredrik AursnesLM
  8. 18Leandro BarreiroRM
  9. 14Vangelis PavlidisF
  10. 21Andreas SchjelderupAM-L
  11. 20Richard RíosAM-R

Timeline

  1. 14' Goal! Real Madrid 0, Benfica 1. Rafa (Benfica) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal.
  2. 16' Goal! Real Madrid 1, Benfica 1. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Federico Valverde.
  3. 35' Richard Ríos (Benfica) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  4. 51' Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  5. 57' Raúl Asencio (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  6. 77' Substitution, Real Madrid. Franco Mastantuono replaces Raúl Asencio because of an injury.
  7. 77' Substitution, Real Madrid. David Alaba replaces Eduardo Camavinga.
  8. 80' Goal! Real Madrid 2, Benfica 1. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Federico Valverde following a fast break.
  9. 84' Substitution, Real Madrid. Thiago Pitarch replaces Gonzalo García.
  10. 84' Substitution, Real Madrid. César Palacios replaces Arda Güler.
  11. 85' Substitution, Benfica. Enzo Barrenechea replaces Fredrik Aursnes.
  12. 85' Substitution, Benfica. Franjo Ivanovic replaces Andreas Schjelderup.
  13. 90'+1' Substitution, Benfica. Sidny Cabral replaces Leandro Barreiro.
  14. 90'+1' Substitution, Real Madrid. Fran García replaces Álvaro Carreras.
  15. 90'+6' César Palacios (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

UEFA Champions League News

All news
News Associated Press Bayern Munich's Vincent Kompany 'stable,' could be away for weeks after collapse Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany will have more tests to determine why he collapsed during a training session the previous day, the club said Saturday. News ESPN News Services Bruno Fernandes' home burgled during Man United loss against Como Bruno Fernandes returned from Italy after losing to Como with Manchester United in the early hours of Thursday morning and had to deal with a robbery at his house. News PA Wayne Rooney: Bruno Fernandes, Man United players acting like 'babies' Wayne Rooney has lambasted Manchester United's squad for acting like "babies" and urged Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez to look in the mirror. News James Olley In-the-dark Kane trying not to 'stress' over Monday's Ballon d'Or reveal Bayern striker Harry Kane said he would prefer to know ahead of time whether he has won the Ballon D'Or, adding he is still in the dark over Monday's decision.