Real Madrid vs Benfica Highlights and Match Report

UEFA Champions League

8:00 PMFebruary 25, 2026

Round of 32

Real Madrid*

Show Score

2 - 1

HT:(1 - 1)

Aggregate:(3 - 1)

Benfica

Bernabéu

Referee: S. Vincic

How did the teams perform?

Real Madrid

World Class 0 Solid 0 Bang Average 0 Lucky 0 Shocking 0

0 Total Votes

Benfica

World Class 0 Solid 0 Bang Average 0 Lucky 0 Shocking 0

Match Stats Lineups Head-2-Head Standings

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Match Stats

Ball possession

56%

44%

1.11

Expected goals (xG)

1.82

-1.00

Goals Prevented

-1.00

Attack

14

Total shots

12

4

Shots on target

4

6

Shots off target

3

4

Blocked shots

5

10

Shots inside box

8

4

Shots outside box

4

4

Corner kicks

7

2

Offsides

0

Passing

556

Total passes

435

502 (90%)

Accurate passes

376 (86%)

Discipline

16

Fouls

10

2

Yellow cards

2

0

Red cards

0

4

Goalkeeper saves

2

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Lineup

Real Madrid

4-4-2

1 G Thibaut Courtois 6.9

18 D Álvaro Carreras 7.3

22 D Antonio Rüdiger 6.9

17 D Raúl Asencio 57' Tripping 6.2

12 D Trent Alexander-Arnold 6.5

6 M Eduardo Camavinga 7.2

14 M Aurélien Tchouaméni 16' 8.0

15 M Arda Güler 6.9

8 M Federico Valverde (C) 16' 80' 7.6

7 F Vinícius Júnior 80' 8.3

16 F Gonzalo García 6.3

Substitutes

45 M Thiago Pitarch 84' Replaced by G. Garcia 6.5

38 M César Palacios 90+6' Holding 84' Replaced by A. Guler 6.3

37 M Manuel Ángel Morán

28 M Jorge Cestero

30 F Franco Mastantuono 77' Replaced by E. Camavinga 6.2

21 M Brahim Díaz

23 D Ferland Mendy

20 D Fran García 90+1' Replaced by A. Carreras

4 D David Alaba 77' Replaced by R. Asencio 6.7

2 D Daniel Carvajal

26 G Fran González

13 G Andriy Lunin

Coach

Alvaro Arbeloa

Benfica

4-2-3-1

1 G Anatoliy Trubin 5.9

26 D Samuel Dahl 6.7

44 D Tomás Araújo 6.6

30 D Nicolás Otamendi (C) 51' 7.3

17 D Amar Dedić 6.0

20 M Richard Ríos 35' Tripping 6.6

18 M Leandro Barreiro 6.3

21 M Andreas Schjelderup 7.0

27 M Rafa Silva 14' 6.9

8 M Fredrik Aursnes 6.6

14 F Vangelis Pavlidis 5.9

Substitutes

72 F Anísio Cabral

9 F Franjo Ivanović 85' Replaced by A. Schjelderup 6.7

16 M Manuel Silva

11 F Dodi Lukebakio

10 M Georgiy Sudakov

5 M Enzo Barrenechea 85' Replaced by F. Aursnes 6.7

62 D José Neto

15 D Sidny Lopes Cabral 90+1' Replaced by L. Barreiro

6 D Alexander Bah

4 D António Silva

24 G Samuel Soares

50 G Diogo Ferreira

Coach

Jose Mourinho

UEFA Champions League Standings - UEFA Champions League

TotalHomeAway

Pos	Team	MP	W	D	L	+/-	GD	Pts	Form
1	Arsenal	8	8	0	0	23-4	19	24	W 07 April: Sporting CP 0 - 1 Arsenal W No match found W No match found W 05 May: Arsenal 1 - 0 Atletico Madrid W No match found
2	Bayern München	8	7	0	1	22-8	14	21	W 18 March: Bayern München 4 - 1 Atalanta L No match found W 15 April: Bayern München 4 - 3 Real Madrid W No match found W No match found
3	Liverpool	8	6	0	2	20-8	12	18	W 28 January: Liverpool 6 - 0 Qarabag L 10 March: Galatasaray 1 - 0 Liverpool W 18 March: Liverpool 4 - 0 Galatasaray W No match found W No match found
4	Tottenham	8	5	2	1	17-7	10	17	W 09 December: Tottenham 3 - 0 Slavia Praha L No match found W 28 January: Eintracht Frankfurt 0 - 2 Tottenham W No match found W 18 March: Tottenham 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid
5	Barcelona	8	5	1	2	22-14	8	16	D No match found L No match found W 18 March: Barcelona 7 - 2 Newcastle W No match found W 14 April: Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona
6	Chelsea	8	5	1	2	17-10	7	16	D No match found W 21 January: Chelsea 1 - 0 Pafos L No match found W No match found W No match found
7	Sporting CP	8	5	1	2	17-11	6	16	D No match found W No match found L No match found W No match found W No match found
8	Manchester City	8	5	1	2	15-9	6	16	W 10 December: Real Madrid 1 - 2 Manchester City L 20 January: Bodo/Glimt 3 - 1 Manchester City W 28 January: Manchester City 2 - 0 Galatasaray L 11 March: Real Madrid 3 - 0 Manchester City W No match found
9	Real Madrid	8	5	0	3	21-12	9	15	L No match found W 11 March: Real Madrid 3 - 0 Manchester City L No match found W No match found L 15 April: Bayern München 4 - 3 Real Madrid
10	Inter	8	5	0	3	15-7	8	15	W No match found L 20 January: Inter 1 - 3 Arsenal L No match found L 18 February: Bodo/Glimt 3 - 1 Inter W No match found
11	Paris Saint Germain	8	4	2	2	21-11	10	14	L No match found W 14 April: Liverpool 0 - 2 Paris Saint Germain D No match found L No match found D 30 May: Paris Saint Germain 1 - 1 Arsenal
12	Newcastle	8	4	2	2	17-7	10	14	W No match found L No match found D No match found W No match found D No match found
13	Juventus	8	3	4	1	14-10	4	13	D No match found W 21 January: Juventus 2 - 0 Benfica W No match found W No match found D No match found
14	Atletico Madrid	8	4	1	3	17-15	2	13	W No match found W 08 April: Barcelona 0 - 2 Atletico Madrid W No match found D 29 April: Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Arsenal L 05 May: Arsenal 1 - 0 Atletico Madrid
15	Atalanta	8	4	1	3	10-10	0	13	W No match found W No match found W 25 February: Atalanta 4 - 1 Borussia Dortmund L 10 March: Atalanta 1 - 6 Bayern München L 18 March: Bayern München 4 - 1 Atalanta
16	Bayer Leverkusen	8	3	3	2	13-14	-1	12	W 28 January: Bayer Leverkusen 3 - 0 Villarreal W 18 February: Olympiakos Piraeus 0 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen D 24 February: Bayer Leverkusen 0 - 0 Olympiakos Piraeus L No match found W No match found
17	Borussia Dortmund	8	3	2	3	19-17	2	11	L No match found W No match found D No match found L No match found L 25 February: Atalanta 4 - 1 Borussia Dortmund
18	Olympiakos Piraeus	8	3	2	3	10-14	-4	11	D No match found L No match found W 28 January: Ajax 1 - 2 Olympiakos Piraeus W No match found W No match found
19	Club Brugge KV	8	3	1	4	15-17	-2	10	D No match found L No match found L No match found W No match found W No match found
20	Galatasaray	8	3	1	4	9-11	-2	10	W No match found L No match found L 25 February: Juventus 3 - 2 Galatasaray D No match found L 18 March: Liverpool 4 - 0 Galatasaray
21	Monaco	8	2	4	2	8-14	-6	10	W 09 December: Monaco 1 - 0 Galatasaray D No match found W No match found L 17 February: Monaco 2 - 3 Paris Saint Germain D 25 February: Paris Saint Germain 2 - 2 Monaco
22	Qarabag	8	3	1	4	13-21	-8	10	D No match found L No match found L 28 January: Liverpool 6 - 0 Qarabag W No match found L 24 February: Newcastle 3 - 2 Qarabag
23	Bodo/Glimt	8	2	3	3	14-15	-1	9	L No match found L No match found D No match found W 11 March: Bodo/Glimt 3 - 0 Sporting CP W No match found
24	Benfica	8	3	0	5	10-12	-2	9	L No match found W No match found W 28 January: Benfica 4 - 2 Real Madrid L 17 February: Benfica 0 - 1 Real Madrid W No match found
25	Marseille	8	3	0	5	11-14	-3	9	L 05 November: Marseille 0 - 1 Atalanta W 25 November: Marseille 2 - 1 Newcastle W 09 December: Union St. Gilloise 2 - 3 Marseille L 21 January: Marseille 0 - 3 Liverpool L 28 January: Club Brugge KV 3 - 0 Marseille
26	Pafos	8	2	3	3	8-11	-3	9	W 05 November: Pafos 1 - 0 Villarreal D 26 November: Pafos 2 - 2 Monaco L 10 December: Juventus 2 - 0 Pafos L 21 January: Chelsea 1 - 0 Pafos W 28 January: Pafos 4 - 1 Slavia Praha
27	Union St. Gilloise	8	3	0	5	8-17	-9	9	L 04 November: Atletico Madrid 3 - 1 Union St. Gilloise W 25 November: Galatasaray 0 - 1 Union St. Gilloise L 09 December: Union St. Gilloise 2 - 3 Marseille L 21 January: Bayern München 2 - 0 Union St. Gilloise W 28 January: Union St. Gilloise 1 - 0 Atalanta
28	PSV Eindhoven	8	2	2	4	16-16	0	8	D 04 November: Olympiakos Piraeus 1 - 1 PSV Eindhoven W 26 November: Liverpool 1 - 4 PSV Eindhoven L 09 December: PSV Eindhoven 2 - 3 Atletico Madrid L 21 January: Newcastle 3 - 0 PSV Eindhoven L 28 January: PSV Eindhoven 1 - 2 Bayern München
29	Athletic Club	8	2	2	4	9-14	-5	8	L 05 November: Newcastle 2 - 0 Athletic Club D 25 November: Slavia Praha 0 - 0 Athletic Club D 10 December: Athletic Club 0 - 0 Paris Saint Germain W 21 January: Atalanta 2 - 3 Athletic Club L 28 January: Athletic Club 2 - 3 Sporting CP
30	Napoli	8	2	2	4	9-15	-6	8	D 04 November: Napoli 0 - 0 Eintracht Frankfurt W 25 November: Napoli 2 - 0 Qarabag L 10 December: Benfica 2 - 0 Napoli D 20 January: FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Napoli L 28 January: Napoli 2 - 3 Chelsea
31	FC Copenhagen	8	2	2	4	12-21	-9	8	L 04 November: Tottenham 4 - 0 FC Copenhagen W 26 November: FC Copenhagen 3 - 2 Kairat Almaty W 10 December: Villarreal 2 - 3 FC Copenhagen D 20 January: FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Napoli L 28 January: Barcelona 4 - 1 FC Copenhagen
32	Ajax	8	2	0	6	8-21	-13	6	L 05 November: Ajax 0 - 3 Galatasaray L 25 November: Ajax 0 - 2 Benfica W 10 December: Qarabag 2 - 4 Ajax W 20 January: Villarreal 1 - 2 Ajax L 28 January: Ajax 1 - 2 Olympiakos Piraeus
33	Eintracht Frankfurt	8	1	1	6	10-21	-11	4	D 04 November: Napoli 0 - 0 Eintracht Frankfurt L 26 November: Eintracht Frankfurt 0 - 3 Atalanta L 09 December: Barcelona 2 - 1 Eintracht Frankfurt L 21 January: Qarabag 3 - 2 Eintracht Frankfurt L 28 January: Eintracht Frankfurt 0 - 2 Tottenham
34	Slavia Praha	8	0	3	5	5-19	-14	3	L 04 November: Slavia Praha 0 - 3 Arsenal D 25 November: Slavia Praha 0 - 0 Athletic Club L 09 December: Tottenham 3 - 0 Slavia Praha L 21 January: Slavia Praha 2 - 4 Barcelona L 28 January: Pafos 4 - 1 Slavia Praha
35	Villarreal	8	0	1	7	5-18	-13	1	L 05 November: Pafos 1 - 0 Villarreal L 25 November: Borussia Dortmund 4 - 0 Villarreal L 10 December: Villarreal 2 - 3 FC Copenhagen L 20 January: Villarreal 1 - 2 Ajax L 28 January: Bayer Leverkusen 3 - 0 Villarreal
36	Kairat Almaty	8	0	1	7	7-22	-15	1	L 05 November: Inter 2 - 1 Kairat Almaty L 26 November: FC Copenhagen 3 - 2 Kairat Almaty L 09 December: Kairat Almaty 0 - 1 Olympiakos Piraeus L 20 January: Kairat Almaty 1 - 4 Club Brugge KV L 28 January: Arsenal 3 - 2 Kairat Almaty

Qualification/Relegation

• Promotion - Champions League (Play Offs: 1/8-finals)
• Promotion - Champions League (Play Offs: 1/16-finals)

Vinicius Junior’s late winner secured Real Madrid a narrow 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory over a resilient Benfica side at the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid secured a vital 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Bernabéu on February 25, 2026. Vinicius Junior’s late strike proved decisive in a hard-fought UEFA Champions League encounter.

Real Madrid entered the match in strong form, topping their group with 12 points from five games. Benfica, however, desperately needed a turnaround in their European campaign. This continental clash held significant weight.

The match exploded into life early. Benfica stunned the home crowd in the 14th minute. Rafa Silva slotted home, giving the visitors a surprising lead.

Real Madrid responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later, in the 16th minute, Aurélien Tchouaméni powered in an equaliser. Federico Valverde provided the assist, restoring parity swiftly.

Real Madrid thought they had taken the lead in the 32nd minute through Arda Güler. However, VAR disallowed the goal for offside, keeping the score level. Benfica’s R. Rios then received a yellow card for tripping in the 35th minute.

At half-time, the score remained finely poised at 1-1. Real Madrid needed to break down Benfica’s resilient defence. Benfica aimed to maintain their shape and threaten on the counter. The second half promised more intensity.

The second half began with fierce battling. Nicolás Otamendi of Benfica was booked in the 51st minute. Real Madrid’s R. Asencio then received a yellow card in the 57th minute for a similar foul.

As the game wore on, Real Madrid pressed for a winner. Coach Carlo Ancelotti made tactical changes in the 77th minute. David Alaba replaced R. Asencio and F. Mastantuono came on for Eduardo Camavinga, seeking fresh impetus.

The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute. Vinicius Junior, assisted again by Federico Valverde, expertly found the net. His goal propelled Real Madrid ahead 2-1, igniting celebrations across the Bernabéu.

Substitutions continued as both teams managed the final stages. Real Madrid brought on G. Garcia and C. Palacios in the 84th minute. Benfica countered with A. Schjelderup and F. Aursnes in the 85th minute. C. Palacios received a yellow card late in stoppage time for holding.

Real Madrid dominated possession with 56%, registering 14 total shots, with 4 on target. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 1.11. Benfica, with 44% possession, managed 12 total shots and an impressive xG of 1.82. Thibaut Courtois made 4 crucial saves for the home side.

This hard-fought 2-1 victory further solidifies Real Madrid’s strong position in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Benfica’s valiant effort ultimately yielded no points, leaving them with an uphill battle.