Real Madrid secure Champions League win over Benfica, sealing 3–1 aggregate victory to reach the round of 16 after tense playoff clash
Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Benfica on the night and a 3–1 aggregate triumph to book their place in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 after a tense playoff second leg in Madrid on Wednesday.
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Benfica stunned the hosts early when Rafa Silva reacted quickest to a rebound in the 14th minute, tapping home to give the Portuguese side the lead and briefly unsettle the home crowd.
The response from Real Madrid was immediate and assured. Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni restored parity just two minutes later following a sharp exchange with Federico Valverde, driving a precise finish into the right side of the net.
The Spanish champions believed they had turned the contest around midway through the first half when Arda Güler forced the ball over the line from close range, but a VAR review ruled the effort out.
Madrid continued to dominate possession, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing crucial saves to deny Richard Ríos and maintain control of the tie.
The decisive breakthrough arrived in the 80th minute. Valverde delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Vinícius Júnior, who surged into the box and drilled a clinical effort into the bottom right corner to make it 2–1.
Despite nine minutes of stoppage time and late pressure from Benfica, Real Madrid managed the closing stages with composure and authority.
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Having won the first leg 1–0, the Spanish side advanced 3–1 on aggregate, underlining a resilient and disciplined performance on a pivotal European night.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
