Real Madrid – Benfica: Vinícius’ Late Strike Seals Victory as Madrid Reach Last 16 (2-1; 3-1 On Aggregate)

Real Madrid secured their passage to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory (3-1 on aggregate) over Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu on February 25, 2026. While the scoreline suggests a standard Madrid victory, the match was a grueling tactical battle defined by Benfica’s aggressive pressing and Madrid’s reliance on individual brilliance in transition. Despite an early scare, goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and the talismanic Vinícius Júnior ensured the 15-time champions remained on course for another European title.

Tactical analysis and match report by Aderemi Qoyum.

A narrow 1–0 win in Lisbon last time out handed Real Madrid a crucial advantage heading into the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Álvaro Arbeloa’s side knowing that avoiding complacency would be key to seeing out progression into the next round of the UEFA Champions League.

SL Benfica meanwhile were left ruing missed opportunities from the first leg and arrived in Madrid aware that overturning the deficit would require a near-perfect performance on the road, although they were without suspended head coach José Mourinho, with assistant João Tralhão stepping into the dugout as the Portuguese giants looked to disrupt Madrid’s rhythm and keep their European hopes alive deep into the knockout stages.

Real Madrid lined up in a 4-4-2 structure that functioned as a 4-2-1-3 in buildup and 4-4-2 when out of possession, with Thibaut Courtois in goal behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Raúl Asencio, and Álvaro Carreras. The midfield featured a central pairing of Aurélien Tchouam . . .