UEFA Champions League Round of 32
Real Madrid 2 - 1 FT Benfica
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Rafa Silva 14'
16' A. Tchouameni (F. Valverde)
32' A. Guler
R. Rios 35'
HT
N. Otamendi 51'
57' R. Asencio
77' ↓ R. Asencio ↑D. Alaba
77' ↓ E. Camavinga ↑F. Mastantuono
80' Vinicius Junior (F. Valverde)
84' ↓ G. Garcia ↑T. Pitarch
84' ↓ A. Guler ↑C. Palacios
↓ A. Schjelderup ↑F. Ivanovic 85'
↓ F. Aursnes ↑E. Barrenechea 85'
90'+1 ↓ A. Carreras ↑F. Garcia
↓ L. Barreiro ↑S. Lopes Cabral 90'+1
90'+6 C. Palacios
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Real Madrid
Goalkeepers
Thibaut Courtois 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
34%
Pass Acc
Raúl Asencio 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Antonio Rüdiger 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álvaro Carreras 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
75%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Federico Valverde
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
2
Assists
39%
Pass Acc
Arda Güler
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Aurélien Tchouaméni 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Eduardo Camavinga
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Forwards
Gonzalo García
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Vinícius Júnior 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
BENCH
Andriy Lunin 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Fran González
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Daniel Carvajal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David Alaba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fran García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ferland Mendy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brahim Díaz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jorge Cestero
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Manuel Ángel Morán
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
César Palacios
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thiago Pitarch
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Franco Mastantuono
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Benfica
Goalkeepers
Anatoliy Trubin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Amar Dedić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tomás Araújo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolás Otamendi
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
86%
Duel Win %
Samuel Dahl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Leandro Barreiro
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Fredrik Aursnes
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Richard Ríos
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Rafa Silva 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
6.9
Rating
Andreas Schjelderup
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
16%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Vangelis Pavlidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Diogo Ferreira
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Samuel Soares
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
António Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alexander Bah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sidny Lopes Cabral
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
José Neto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Enzo Barrenechea
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Georgiy Sudakov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Manuel Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dodi Lukebakio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Franjo Ivanović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Anísio Cabral
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/02/2026 | Benfica | 0 - 1 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Estádio da Luz |
| 28/01/2026 | Benfica | 4 - 2 | Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | Estádio da Luz |
17/02/2026
28/01/2026
Real Madrid Win
Benfica Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Madrid Weather the Storm to Secure Quarter-Final Berth
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 60/100. Real Madrid proved once again that the Bernabéu is a fortress in European knockout football, overcoming an early deficit to extinguish Benfica's comeback hopes.
The Shock in the Capital
The night started with a massive Stakes rating, as Benfica arrived in Madrid trailing 1-0 on aggregate but clearly undeterred. The Portuguese giants stunned the home crowd in the 14th minute when Rafa Silva found the net, momentarily leveling the entire tie. It was a wake-up call for the hosts, who had looked uncharacteristically passive in the opening exchanges. The Intensity surged immediately after the goal; this wasn't going to be the straightforward evening many Madridistas expected. Benfica looked to exploit the wide areas, but their joy was short-lived as the tactical Balance of the match shifted back toward the Spanish champions within seconds of the restart.
The Immediate Response
True champions don't panic, and Real Madrid are the masters of the quick recovery. Just two minutes after falling behind, A. Tchouameni rose to the occasion, drilling home an equalizer after being set up by the tireless F. Valverde. This goal restored Madrid's aggregate lead and drained the initial momentum from the visitors. The first half remained frantic, with a high volume of 26 total shots across the match keeping both keepers busy. A. Guler thought he had put the game to bed before the break, but a VAR intervention for offside kept the contest on a knife-edge, ensuring the Balance remained delicate heading into the interval.
Vinícius Seals the Deal
The second half saw Madrid controlled possession, holding 56% of the ball to frustrate a tiring Benfica side. While the visitors pushed for a goal that would have forced extra time, the clinical nature of the hosts eventually told. In the 80th minute, Vinicius Junior showcased his world-class movement to slot home his second goal of the tie, once again assisted by F. Valverde. This 2-1 victory (3-1 on aggregate) sends a clear message to the rest of the competition. Despite Benfica's brave effort and higher xG (1.82 to Madrid's 1.11), the clinical edge of the 'Kings of Europe' proved decisive. They march on, while Benfica are left to rue missed opportunities in a high-octane encounter.
Key Questions
How did Real Madrid complete the comeback from behind?
Madrid responded instantly through Tchouaméni just two minutes after conceding, before Vinícius Júnior sealed the win late in the second half.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Madrid's Narrow Lead Meets Benfica's Last Stand
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 41/100. Real Madrid holds the cards after the first leg, but Benfica's desperation makes this a high-stakes survival test on Spanish soil.
The Setup
The equation is simple for the second leg of this Round of 32 tie: survive and advance. Real Madrid enters the night with a slim 1-0 aggregate advantage thanks to a strike from Vinícius Júnior in Lisbon. Despite an inconsistent Form rating following a run of mixed results, the home side remains the heavy favorite. They possess a Stars factor that is nearly off the charts, featuring world-class talent capable of ending a tie in a single moment. For Benfica, the mission is daunting. Sitting 24th in the overall standings compared to Madrid's 9th, they must overcome a disciplined backline and a high Balance rating from the hosts to keep their European dreams alive.
Key Battle
The spotlight falls on the duel between Vinícius Júnior and Richard Ríos. Vinícius is the man who unlocked the door in the first leg and his pace on the counter will be Madrid's primary weapon. Ríos will be tasked with anchoring the midfield and preventing the Brazilian from finding space behind the defensive line. If Ríos can disrupt the rhythm of the home side's transitions, the Portuguese giants might just find the opening they need to level the aggregate score.
Our Prediction
Our take is that Madrid will leverage their home advantage to dictate the tempo. We expected a 2-1 victory for the hosts (3-1 on aggregate). While Benfica is likely to push aggressively in the second half, the clinical nature of the Madrid attack should exploit the gaps left behind. Expect a night of high tension where the home side's individual brilliance eventually overwhelms the visitors' collective effort.