Actual Madrid defeated Benfica 1-0 in a tough first leg of the Champions League play-offs on the Estadio da Luz, with Vinicius Junior scoring the profitable objective.
Tuesday’s match was overshadowed by chaotic scenes, with the sport being suspended for 10 minutes instantly after Vinicius’ Fiftieth-minute objective.
The Brazilian appeared livid at what had been stated to him and briefly sat down within the dugout with no intention of constant, however returned for the remainder of the match, with Benfica supervisor Jose Mourinho additionally being despatched to the stands.
Madrid began slowly however by the top of the primary half they have been knocking furiously on the door, with a number of good probabilities coming and going.
Vinicius fired large on the flip and teed up Kylian Mbappé with an excellent backheel, however the Frenchman merely wavered off his line after failing to reply effectively to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s laborious shot.
Mbappe additionally took a left-footed kick contained in the crowded penalty space, which was denied by Anatoly Trubin, however the Ukrainian then deflected Arda Güler’s shot previous the correct submit, making the half goalless.
Nevertheless, Madrid lastly broke by means of in spectacular trend after the interval when Vinicius obtained inside Amar Dedic and fired house from close to the left nook of the field.
Nevertheless, there was a protracted stoppage instantly after the objective, with Vinicius working in the direction of referee François Letexier after an alternate with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, and officers stopped the match in keeping with UEFA’s process for gamers who increase allegations of racist abuse.
Madrid continued to dominate after the restart, with Vinicius saving one other depraved shot from Trubin, however tensions rose on the Benfica bench when Mourinho handed out a pink for 2 cautions with 5 minutes remaining.
— Actual Madrid CF (@realmadriden) February 17, 2026
Information report: Vinicius passes Kaka
Submit-match headlines will concentrate on the ugly scenes after Vinicius’ objective, with the Brazilian additionally being hit by a bottle thrown by a crowd whereas ready for a nook kick deep within the thirteenth minute of stoppage time.
Nevertheless, so far as issues on the pitch are involved, Vinicius confirmed his high quality with a elegant objective, his thirty first objective within the Champions League.
This transfer overtook Kaka, 30, to turn out to be the second-highest-scoring Brazilian participant within the competitors, with solely Neymar, 43, his compatriot with extra targets.
Madrid completed the sport with 16 photographs to Benfica’s 10, and likewise received the anticipated targets (xG) battle by 1.11 to 0.41.
