Madrid–wasn’t there gianluca prestieni at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, and Jose Mourinho was not there, but there was Vinicius Junior.
Prestiani suspended pending investigation by UEFA into allegations benfica winger racially abused In last week’s first leg, with Vinicius facing a touchline ban on his return to his former club, the spotlight was on Vinicius. He confirmed this by scoring the winning goal in the 80th minute. real Madridthere is space in uefa champions league round of 16, make it 2-1 On the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
Madrid did not play well. They were less confident than they were a week earlier in Lisbon, and based on current form there are serious doubts over the team’s ability to progress to the knockout stage this season. But there is no doubt about Vinicius’s quality right now, or his performance levels. The forward followed up his infamous goal in last week’s 1-0 win at the Estadio da Luz – after which, he says, he was racially abused by Prestiani – with another equally valuable, if less spectacular, strike in Madrid.
played by federico valverdeVinicius easily dodged Benfica’s defence, took possession of the ball and calmly beat the goalkeeper. Anatoly Trubin. He then headed towards the corner flag to repeat the goal celebration that Mourinho had criticized in Lisbon a week earlier, with a big smile on his face.
Vinicius has now scored in his last five games at Real Madrid. This is his best performance so far this season, and equals the best scoring streak of his career. Under Alvaro Arbeloa, he has found himself again, scoring as many goals in 10 matches with the new coach as he did in 33 matches during the troubled reign of Xabi Alonso, which was ended in January due to differences with Vinicius.
This is the best news for Madrid: the player who was so important to their last two Champions League trophy wins in 2022 and 2024 is back. But that may be the only good news right now.
Because it was a night when Madrid were defensively weak and disorganized in midfield despite little opposition. In this form, they will not be anyone’s favorite to go ahead and win the competition, as they hold the record 15 times. Benfica are third in the Portuguese league, and entering Wednesday’s game, they had lost six European matches against all opposition this season: Qarabag, chelsea, newcastle united, bayer leverkusen, juventus And Madrid. But still, they pushed Madrid too close for comfort over both these legs.
– O’Halloran: The secret behind Bodo/Glimt’s European success
– UEFA rejects Benfica’s appeal of Gianluca Prestiani ban
– Hunter: Can Mourinho become Real Madrid coach again?
On Wednesday, Benfica created nine chances and took 12 shots for an xG (expected goals) of 1.98, more than Madrid’s 1.11. madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Made four saves, including one of exceptional quality, to deny Benfica Richard Rios In the first part.
Without kilian mbappeSidelined by an ongoing knee problem – Arbeloa ominously said before the match that his absence “will not be a question of days” – and Jude BellinghamWho is not expected to return until early April, the Madrid star is counting on Vinicius to provide quality. Over two legs, he delivered powerfully.
Before kick-off at the Bernabéu, fans behind the stadium’s southern goal waved a “No to racism” banner in solidarity with the player. Benfica’s traveling fans responded by loudly whistling whenever Vinícius touched the ball.
It was a difficult task for Benfica Amar Dedic. Vinicius looked focused and dangerous from the start. His first chance came after just six minutes, when a clever one-two with Arda Güler got him behind the Benfica defence.
After half an hour, Vinicius’ cross created a chance for Güler which would have made the score 2–1 had the goal not been ruled out for offside. And just before halftime, there was another driving run from Vinicius, with Dedic to beat, before delivering a dangerous ball into the six-yard box.
Vinicius scored an own goal in the 80th minute and Madrid could finally feel safe with a 3–1 lead on aggregate. A season that began with Vinicius being in and out of the starting eleven, with questions over his long-term future and most recently with him going three months without scoring, may yet be decisive again.
“[Vinícius] Very good game,” Arbeloa later told Movistar. “He threatened, he scored, he was dangerous. … We need him, even with Kylian, but without Kylian, we need him even more. He has to become our leader.”
On Friday, Madrid will find out whether they will face Manchester City Or Sporting CP In the round of 16, City are highly familiar opponents. The two teams have clashed in five of the last six seasons.
Arbeloa later said, “Whoever comes in, it will be difficult.” But there is no doubt that the real test will be at City.
