Actual Madrid vs Benfica Highlights and Match Report

UEFA Champions League
8:00 PMFebruary 25, 2026
Spherical of 32

Actual Madrid*2 – 1
HT:(1 – 1)
Mixture:(3 – 1)

BenficaBernabéu
Referee: Slavko Vinčić, Slovenia


Actual Madrid


Benfica
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1.11
Anticipated objectives (xG)
1.82
-1.00
Targets Prevented
-1.00
Passing
502 (90%)
Correct passes
376 (86%)
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1
G
Thibaut Courtois
18
D
Álvaro Carreras
22
D
Antonio Rüdiger
D
Raúl Asencio
12
D
Trent Alexander-Arnold
6
M
Eduardo Camavinga
M
Aurélien Tchouaméni
16′
15
M
Arda Güler
M
Federico Valverde (C)
F
Vinícius Júnior
80′
16
F
Gonzalo García
1
G
Anatoliy Trubin
26
D
Samuel Dahl
44
D
Tomás Araújo
D
Nicolás Otamendi (C)
17
D
Amar Dedić
M
Richard Ríos
18
M
Leandro Barreiro
21
M
Andreas Schjelderup
8
M
Fredrik Aursnes
14
F
Vangelis Pavlidis
Substitutes
72
F
Anísio Cabral
F
Franjo Ivanović
16
M
Manuel Silva
11
F
Dodi Lukebakio
10
M
Georgiy Sudakov
M
Enzo Barrenechea
62
D
José Neto
D
Sidny Lopes Cabral
6
D
Alexander Bah
4
D
António Silva
24
G
Samuel Soares
50
G
Diogo Ferreira

UEFA Champions League Standings – UEFA Champions League
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (Play Offs: 1/8-finals)
- Promotion – Champions League (Play Offs: 1/16-finals)
Vinicius Junior’s late winner secured Actual Madrid a slim 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory over a resilient Benfica facet on the Bernabéu.
Actual Madrid secured an important 2-1 victory over Benfica on the Bernabéu on February 25, 2026. Vinicius Junior’s late strike proved decisive in a hard-fought UEFA Champions League encounter.
Actual Madrid entered the match in robust kind, topping their group with 12 factors from 5 video games. Benfica, nevertheless, desperately wanted a turnaround of their European marketing campaign. This continental conflict held important weight.
The match exploded into life early. Benfica surprised the house crowd within the 14th minute. Rafa Silva slotted residence, giving the guests a shocking lead.
Actual Madrid responded nearly instantly. Simply two minutes later, within the sixteenth minute, Aurélien Tchouaméni powered in an equaliser. Federico Valverde offered the help, restoring parity swiftly.
Actual Madrid thought they’d taken the lead within the thirty second minute via Arda Güler. Nevertheless, VAR disallowed the objective for offside, conserving the rating stage. Benfica’s R. Rios then acquired a yellow card for tripping within the thirty fifth minute.
At half-time, the rating remained finely poised at 1-1. Actual Madrid wanted to interrupt down Benfica’s resilient defence. Benfica aimed to take care of their form and threaten on the counter. The second half promised extra depth.
The second half started with fierce battling. Nicolás Otamendi of Benfica was booked within the 51st minute. Actual Madrid’s R. Asencio then acquired a yellow card within the 57th minute for the same foul.
As the sport wore on, Actual Madrid pressed for a winner. Coach Carlo Ancelotti made tactical modifications within the 77th minute. David Alaba changed R. Asencio and F. Mastantuono got here on for Eduardo Camavinga, looking for contemporary impetus.
The decisive second arrived within the eightieth minute. Vinicius Junior, assisted once more by Federico Valverde, expertly discovered the online. His objective propelled Actual Madrid forward 2-1, igniting celebrations throughout the Bernabéu.
Substitutions continued as each groups managed the ultimate phases. Actual Madrid introduced on G. Garcia and C. Palacios within the 84th minute. Benfica countered with A. Schjelderup and F. Aursnes within the eighty fifth minute. C. Palacios acquired a yellow card late in stoppage time for holding.
Actual Madrid dominated possession with 56%, registering 14 whole photographs, with 4 heading in the right direction. Their anticipated objectives (xG) stood at 1.11. Benfica, with 44% possession, managed 12 whole photographs and a powerful xG of 1.82. Thibaut Courtois made 4 essential saves for the house facet.
This difficult-fought 2-1 victory additional solidifies Actual Madrid’s robust place within the UEFA Champions League group stage. Benfica’s valiant effort in the end yielded no factors, leaving them with an uphill battle.

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