Real Madrid shrugged off last week’s racism incident to advance into the last-16 of the Champions League at the expense of Benfica.
Bringing a one-goal lead into the second leg at the Bernabeu, Madrid were sluggish throughout the evening which can, in part, be attributed to their superstar players being injured.
Still, there is enough quality in the Spanish giants to ease any nerves especially as Benfica scored the opening goal thanks to Rafa Silva poaching a deflection inside the six yard box.
That brought the tie level but Aurelien Tchouameni equalised just two minutes later to swing control back to Madrid. They made errors and mistakes throughout but Benfica’s quality was lacking.
Vinicius Jr, in the headlines last week for the wrong reasons, will make them tonight for the right ones. A counter-attacking strike secured the victory and passage into the next round and he celebrated in the same fashion as when he scored in Portugal last time out.
Relive the updates from the Bernabeu below:
Real Madrid vs Benfica live
- Real Madrid defeat Benfica in second leg of Champions League play-off | Live on TNT Sports
- 80' GOAL! Vinicius Jr scores on the break to increase Real's lead (RMA 2-1 BEN)
- 33' NO GOAL! Arda Guler's goal is chalked out for offside (RMA 1-1 BEN)
- 16' GOAL! Real respond immediately through Tchouameni (RMA 1-1 BEN)
- 14' GOAL! Rafa Silva pokes home for the visitors (RMA 0-1 BEN)
Vinicius Jr scores decisive goal as Real Madrid defeat Benfica one week after racism storm
Wednesday 25 February 2026 22:53 , Mike JonesReal Madrid recovered from an early scare to beat Benfica 2-1 on Wednesday and secure a 3-1 aggregate victory to reach the Champions League last 16 after a pulsating game at the Bernabeu.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr. struck either side of half-time to cancel out Rafa Silva's opener and send the record 15-times European champions through, with either Manchester City or Sporting awaiting in Friday's draw.
Vinicius Jr scores decisive goal as Real Madrid defeat Benfica
Full-time! Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 22:00 , Mike Jones90+9 mins: A very sedate nine minutes of stoppage time ends a lacklustre second leg.
The tie is decided thanks to goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid reach the last-16 for the 29th successive season.
Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:52 , Mike Jones90 mins: Nine minutes of added time to play in the Bernabeu.
Is that enough for Benfica to score twice?
Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:48 , Mike Jones86 mins: More substitutions from Real Madrid.
21-year-old Cesar Palacios and 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch come on for Arda Guler and Gonzalo Garcia.
Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:44 , Mike Jones83 mins: Close! Arda Guler is given the ball and works inside from the right wing.
He shoots from range but hooks the ball just over the far left corner of the goal.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg) - Vinicius Jr, 80'
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:41 , Mike JonesSurely that’s the goal to send Real Madrid through!
Vinicius Jr stays high and Real overturn the ball as Benfica look to push up the pitch.
Valverde, the man of the match for me, wins it back and threads the pass up to Vinicius.
He bursts into the box and perfectly guides his shot into the far bottom corner.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:37 , Mike Jones76 mins: No, Asencio cannot continue for Real Madrid.
He’s lifted onto the stretched and heloed off the pitch.
The hosts makes two changes now, Alaba comes on for Asencio and Franco Mastantuono replaces Camavinga.
Asencio is applauded by the supporters inside the stadium.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:35 , Mike Jones72 mins: Real Madrid have an issue here. Raul Asencio is down and being treated by the medical staff after a knock to the head.
It looks as though he won’t be able to continue and he’s being given a neck brace.
David Alaba is getting ready to come on.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:29 , Mike Jones67 mins: All too easy at the minute for Real Madrid though Benfica are getting into decent areas.
Madrid are too weak defensively and are getting shoved off the ball.
Pavlidis receives it and has a strike but the ball bounces off the nearest defender, Carreras, and goes behind for a corner.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:23 , Mike Jones63 mins: Rafa Silva hits the crossbar!
He’s given the ball on the edge of the box and let’s fly. Courtois is worried about it and jumps to cover the ball.
He stretches his right hand but can’t reach it and the ball dips onto the woodwork before bouncing out of play.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:20 , Mike Jones60 mins: Real have the chance to break forward and Guler threads the ball over to Alexander-Arnold.
It’s a familiar position he used to find himself in for Liverpool.
Vinicius Jr cuts in from the left but Alexander-Arnold overhits his chipped pass and the chance to shoot slips away.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:18 , Mike Jones57 mins: Benfica are interested in equalising in the tie (I know that’s obvious) but they aren’t stressing the matter.
It’s all a little safe from the visitors at the minute.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:12 , Mike Jones50 mins: Ouch!
Camavinga slips a pass into Vini Jr who dances in from the left wing and gets clattered by Otamendi.
The Benfica captain then lunges into a tackle on Tchouameni and takes out the midfielder too.
Otamendi is shown a yellow card but both of those challenges could have resulted in bookings.
Lucky man.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:08 , Mike Jones47 mins: Close!
Alexander-Arnold finds himself in plenty of space over on the right side of the pitch.
He delivers a low, curling cross into the box and Valverde is the target.
He tries to meet the ball with a first time shot but misses it and Benfica clear their lines!
Second half! Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:06 , Mike JonesBenfica get the ball rolling once more at the Bernabeu.
At this stage, Real Madrid will be progressing into the last-16.
HT Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:00 , Mike JonesIn the other Champions League play off matches taking place tonight.
Atalanta have dumped out Borussia Dortmund overturning a two goal first leg deficit to beat the German side 4-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
That match was an early kick off so the result is known but it’s close in the other two fixtures.
Juventus are beating Galatasaray 1-0 but are losing 3-5 on aggregate while PSG are 0-1 behind Monaco with that all-French affair now level at 3-3 across both legs.
HT Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:57 , Mike Jones
Half-time! Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:49 , Mike Jones45+2 mins: The first half comes to a close with Real Madrid still leading by a goal.
Benfica have shown they can challenge but in truth its been a poor showing from both teams save for Tchouameni’s goal.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:44 , Mike Jones43 mins: Alexander-Arnold plays the corner short to Guler who gives it to Valverde.
Valverde returns the pass as Guler darts into the box but his pass across the six-yard area is intercepted and cleared.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:43 , Mike Jones40 mins: Guler receives the ball on the inside right channel, from that man Valverde again, and Guler decides to take a touch before shooting.
He drills another fine effort at goal but a deflection sends the ball behind for a corner.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:40 , Mike Jones36 mins: There’s a decent atmosphere inside the stadium. It’s upbeat, steady and rises in moments of excitement.
The latest comes for Benfica after a weaving run into the box from Schjelderup sees the ball pulled back to Richard Rios.
He strikes a low effort at goal but is denied by a dropping Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:35 , Mike Jones33 mins: NO GOAL!
Gonzalo just drifted past the last defender according to the VAR so Real Madrid’s goal is chalked off!
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg) - Arda Guler, 32'
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:34 , Mike JonesReal Madrid believe they have the lead but there’ll be a VAR check.
Vini Jr flicks a cross into the box and finds Valverde who nods it down to Gonzalo.
His shot is blocked but the deflection sees the ball come loose and Arda Guler is there ahead of Anatoliy Trubin to thrust the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
But! There’s a check going on for an offside against Gonzalo...
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:32 , Mike Jones30 mins: Half an hour played and so far so good for the hosts.
Benfica have been decent and they’re looking for the opportunities to get men into the final third without leaving themselves open to a quick counter.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:28 , Mike Jones26 mins: The Benfica goal has brought an edge to Real who equalised very quickly afterwards and have since been controlling play.
Vini Jr is still the target man and is getting more joy when he cuts inside rather than sticking out on the left like he is used to.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:25 , Mike Jones23 mins: Eduardo Camavinga takes a decent shot from just outside the box and strikes it well.
The effort doesn’t trouble the Benfica goalkeeper though and Anatoliy Trubin plucks it out of the air without issue.
Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:21 , Mike Jones20 mins: The nervousness that was perhaps building amongst the Real fans dissipated immediately once Tchouameni’s goal went in.
Real are really open though and it feels like a match that will be decided by which team outscores the other.
Real Madrid are usually good at that.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Benfica (2-1 agg) - Aurelien Tchouameni, 16'
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:18 , Mike JonesInstant response!
Madrid push forward and play the ball into the feet of Fede Valverde who takes it into the right side of the box.
He cuts it back to Aurelien Tchouameni who meets the ball with a first touch shot and curls it into the bottom right hand corner!
Real restore their lead in this tie!
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Benfica (1-1 agg) - Rafa Silva, 14'
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:16 , Mike JonesPerfect start for Benfica!
Vangelis Pavlidis is played in to the right hand channel with a threaded pass and he drives up to the box before fizzing in a square pass.
Raul Asencio lunges at the ball and forces his own goalkeeper to make a sharp save.
Thibaut Courtois stop, however, ricochets the ball into the six yard box and Rafa Silva is there to poke it into the back of the net!
Real Madrid 0-0 Benfica (1-0 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:12 , Mike Jones10 mins: A few errors from Real Madrid, especially in passing accuracy, and a lack of desire to quickly pass up the pitch means it’s been relatively simple for Benfica so far.
Most of the play from the home side is coming through Vini Jr but he’s well marked and has had a limited effect.
Real Madrid 0-0 Benfica (1-0 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:08 , Mike Jones6 mins: Vinicius Jr collects the ball in the inside left channel and plays a sharp one-two with Arda Guler.
Vini Jr is played into the box and looks at goal only for Nicolas Otamendi to come bounding across and win a perfectly timed sliding tackle.
Real Madrid 0-0 Benfica (1-0 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:05 , Mike Jones3 mins: Dedic gets forward again but cuts inside and slips a pass to the left wing.
Andreas Scjhjelderup collects the ball weaves around Trent Alexander-Arnold and fizzes a shot at goal which gets deflected into the side netting.
Kick off! Real Madrid 0-0 Benfica (1-0 agg)
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:02 , Mike JonesMadrid get the ball rolling for this Champions League clash.
There is a backdrop of tension surrounding this game due to last week’s racism storm.
Madrid send the ball forward but it is won in the air by the Benfica defence and the counter attack is on.
Amar Dedic sweeps forward on the right but loses the ball to Alvaro Carreras.
Real Madrid vs Benfica
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:57 , Mike JonesThe teams make their way out onto the pitch at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid will want to strike early and put this tie to bed as soon as possible.
Can they do it?
Kick off is up next...
Real Madrid vs Benfica
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:50 , Mike JonesReal Madrid lead this tie 1-0 after the headline-making first leg in Portugal.
Gianluca Prestianni is absent from the Benfica team having been given a provisional ban by Uefa for alleged racist abuse in the previous outing.
Kylian Mbappe is also out but through injury and will not be available for Madrid.
Can Real increase their lead or will Benfica come back and overturn the deficit?
A tough task for Benfica
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:45 , Mike JonesReal Madrid have won 10 of their last 12 Champions League two‑legged ties.
Although they did lose the most recent one — a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in last season’s quarter‑finals.
Match stats
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:40 , Chris WilsonMadrid have progressed from 22 of their last 23 UEFA Champions League knockout ties when they have won the first leg – the exception in this run was against Ajax in the last 16 in 2018/19 (2-1 first leg, 1-4 second leg).
Benfica have progressed through just one of their eight previous knockout ties in major European competition when losing the first leg at home – they lost 1-0 to Dinamo Bucuresti in the 1999-00 Uefa Cup first round, before winning 2-0 away from home to advance to the next round.
Today's Champions League fixtures
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:30 , Chris WilsonHere are the final four play-off fixtures then:
Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund (0-2 agg.) - 5.45pm
Juventus vs Galatasaray (2-5 agg.) - 8pm
PSG vs AS Monaco (3-2 agg.) - 8pm
Real Madrid vs Benfica (1-0 agg.) - 8pm
When is the Champions League last-16 draw? Date, start time, qualified teams and how to watch online
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:20 , Chris WilsonThe Champions League knockout rounds are set to be mapped out this week as the draw for the last-16, quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place in Nyon, Switzerland.
The midweek play-off games will send eight more sides into the round of 16 to join the top eight from the league phase. Five Premier League teams – Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City – have already qualified for the knockout rounds, with Newcastle set to join them via the play-offs.
The outline of the draw has already been made, with teams grouped into small four-way pools of possible opponents based on their league placings.
Real Madrid boss urges Uefa to seize opportunity to ‘fight against racism’ in Vinicius Jr case
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:10 , Chris WilsonReal Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has called on Uefa to demonstrate its commitment to combating racism, following alleged abuse directed at forward Vinicius Jr.
The incident occurred during last week’s Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg in Lisbon, where Vinicius claimed he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni shortly after scoring the only goal.
Prestianni, an Argentinian winger who denies the allegation, has since been handed a one-game provisional ban by Uefa, ruling him out of Wednesday evening’s return leg in Madrid.
Real Madrid boss urges Uefa to seize opportunity to ‘fight against racism’
Benfica line-up to face Real Madrid
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:54 , Mike JonesBenfica XI: Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barreiro; Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Schjelderup; Pavlidis
Real Madrid's starting XI
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:46 , Mike JonesReal Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Ascenio, Rudiger, Carreras; Valverde, Guler, Tchouameni; Camavinga, Gonzalo, Vinicius Jr
📋✅ Our starting XI!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 25, 2026
🆚 @slbenfica_en pic.twitter.com/b8bk8mcuBd
Team news
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:40 , Chris WilsonThe line-ups will be released any time now, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides...
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is suspended, while Alvaro Arbeloa is also without the injured Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos. Dean Huijsen is a doubt.
Manager Jose Mourinho will not be in the touchline on his return to the Bernabeu having been sent off during the first leg. Dodi Lukebakio could replace the suspended Gianluca Prestianni.
Match stats
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:30 , Chris WilsonThis is the sixth meeting between Real Madrid and Benfica in the European Cup/Champions League – although Madrid won the first leg of this tie, Benfica are one of two sides they have faced 5+ times in the competition and lost more games (3) than they’ve won (2), along with Milan (P16 W6 D3 L7).
These two sides will meet in the Champions League for a third consecutive game (MD8 of the group phase, first/second leg of the play-offs). It’s the first fixture in competition history to be played three times in a row in the same season.
Kylian Mbappe ruled out of Real Madrid’s crunch reunion with Benfica in Champions League
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:20 , Chris WilsonKylian Mbappe will miss Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off second leg with Benfica with injury.
Madrid are leading 1-0 after a fractious first leg in Lisbon which saw goalscorer Vinicius Jr accused Benfica’s Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse.
Prestianni has been suspended for one game – the second leg – pending an investigation by Uefa. The 20-year-old has denied racially abusing Vinicius and claimed to have been misheard.
Kylian Mbappe ruled out of Madrid’s crunch reunion with Benfica in Champions League
Will Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni play against Real Madrid tonight?
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:10 , Chris WilsonBenfica winger Gianluca Prestianni is suspended for tonight’s match against Real Madrid while Uefa investigates allegations that the 20-year-old racially abused Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr the first leg of their Champions League play-off last week.
Prestianni was seen holding his shirt over his mouth during a heated exchange with Madrid players following Vinicius’s second-half goal in Lisbon. The Brazilian winger rushed to the referee to report what he claimed was racist abuse.
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Will Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni play against Real Madrid tonight?
‘A disgrace to football’: Vinicius Jr reports racist abuse as Real Madrid match halted
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:00 , Chris WilsonVinicius Jr said “racists are cowards” after he was allegedly abused during Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off first leg against Benfica, which was held up for 11 minutes over reported racist remarks.
Vinicius had an altercation with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni after scoring the only goal of the game and told the referee that he had been the subject of racist abuse. The match was then paused following Uefa’s three-step racism protocol.
‘A disgrace to football’: Vinicius Jr reports racism as Real Madrid match halted
When is Real Madrid vs Benfica?
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:52 , Chris WilsonThe second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off tie is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 25 February at the Estadio Bernabeu in Madrid.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 7.30pm GMT. A live stream will be available via discovery+.
Predicted line-ups
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:46 , Chris WilsonReal Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rudiger, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Guler; Vinicius, Mbappe.
Benfica XI: Trubin; Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Aursnes; Lukebakio, Rafa, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Team news
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:41 , Chris WilsonManager Jose Mourinho will not be in the touchline on his return to the Bernabeu having been sent off during the first leg. Dodi Lukebakio could replace the suspended Gianluca Prestianni.
Team news
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:37 , Chris WilsonReal Madrid’s Rodrygo is suspended, while Alvaro Arbeloa is also without the injured Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos. Dean Huijsen is a doubt.
Real Madrid vs Benfica live
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:33 , Chris WilsonReal Madrid and Benfica contest the second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off tie after a week dominated by non-footballing matters.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended for the second leg after Vinicius Jr alleged that he had suffered racist abuse last Tuesday.
The game was halted for 10 minutes before resuming as Real Madrid took a 1-0 lead back to the Spanish capital.
It could be a curious atmosphere at the Bernabeu even with Prestianni not involved as both sides look to reach the round of 16.
Good evening
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:28 , Chris WilsonHello and welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of tonight’s Champions League play-off second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica.
Los Blancos hold a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg as they welcome the Portuguese giants to the Bernabeu, though much of the build-up to the second leg has covered the alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Jr by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who is suspended tonight while Uefa investigate the allegations.
We’ll have all the latest build-up and updates for you right here.
