Real Madrid secured a crucial away victory against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, with Vinicius Junior's second-half strike proving the difference.
Real Madrid edged Benfica 1-0 in a tense UEFA Champions League encounter on February 17, 2026. Vinicius Junior emerged as the match-winner, scoring the decisive goal early in the second half. His individual brilliance settled a hard-fought contest.
Coming into this Group Stage fixture, Real Madrid held a strong position with 12 points from five games. Benfica, however, faced an uphill battle, languishing with just three points. The Portuguese giants desperately sought a vital home win to keep their European hopes alive.
The first half at Estádio da Luz was a tightly contested affair. Real Madrid controlled possession, dictating the tempo of the game with their fluid passing. They pushed forward, trying to unlock the home side's organised defence.
Benfica defended resolutely, absorbing sustained pressure from the Spanish visitors. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin proved a formidable barrier. He made six crucial saves, denying efforts from Vinicius Junior and Arda Güler with sharp reflexes.
Despite Real Madrid's 58% possession, Benfica managed to limit clear-cut chances. Nicolás Otamendi marshalled the defence effectively. Both teams headed into the break with the score level at 0-0.
Real Madrid needed to find a cutting edge to break Benfica's stubborn resistance after the interval. Benfica aimed to maintain their defensive shape and capitalize on swift counter-attacking opportunities. The second half promised more intensity.
The deadlock finally broke five minutes after the restart. Kylian Mbappe provided a sharp, incisive pass into the box. Vinicius Junior received the ball and coolly slotted it past Trubin in the 50th minute, sparking Real Madrid celebrations.
Just a minute later, Vinicius Junior received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. Benfica responded with tactical changes, introducing Rafa Silva and Andreas Schjelderup in the 74th minute. They tried to inject pace and creativity into their attack.
The home side’s challenge became significantly harder in the 85th minute. Benfica's J. Mourinho received two quick yellow cards, leading to a red card. This saw him sent off, reducing Benfica to ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Benfica pressed forward in search of an equalizer. G. Prestianni had earlier been booked for diving in the 78th minute. G. Sudakov also earned a yellow card in stoppage time, reflecting Benfica's growing frustration.
Real Madrid managed the game effectively in the closing stages. They introduced Arda Güler, Eduardo Camavinga, and Álvaro Carreras to shore up their midfield and defence. The visitors saw out their narrow lead professionally.
Real Madrid demonstrated their dominance with 58% ball possession and 16 total shots, seven of which were on target. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 1.11 compared to Benfica's 0.41. Benfica only managed three shots on target despite their efforts.
This narrow 1-0 victory consolidates Real Madrid's strong position in the Champions League group. Benfica's hopes of progression now hang by a thread after another disappointing home result. The performance highlighted Real Madrid’s clinical edge and title credentials.
