Vinicius strikes again as Real Madrid beat Benfica to reach Champions League last 16 | OneFootball

Vinicius struck again for Real Madrid, sealing a 2-1 win over Benfica after a 1-0 first leg to reach the Champions League last 16. The Brazilian’s display suggested he had put last week’s abuse behind him.

As reported by L'Équipe, he repeated his corner-flag dance, read as celebratory rather than provocative inside the Bernabéu. No opponent confronted him, and he trotted back with Madrid ahead after the visitors had struck first.

Through loud whistles from a 4000-strong away end that often drowned out the 80000 locals, he kept demanding the ball and attacking. Miss or miscontrol, he went again, wearing defenders down through sheer persistence.

In the 79th minute, fed down the left by Federico Valverde, he burst into the box and whipped a sudden right-foot shot past Anatoliy Trubin, a finish reminiscent of Henry. It was his sixth goal in five games and it silenced the Benfica support.

He kept hunting more, even trying to slip through three defenders late on, as if to remind José Mourinho in the stands how disappointing he found the defence of Gianluca Prestianni, whom he had accused of racist abuse. Alvaro Arbeloa hailed a big performance and said Madrid need Vinicius with Kylian Mbappé, and even more without, adding he must be their leader. Mbappé has a left knee ligament issue and should rest for a few weeks, offering Vinicius the chance to drive Madrid again after missing the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

Source: L'Équipe