Vinícius Júnior dances again as Real Madrid defeat Benfica to reach Champions League last 16

• Vinícius Júnior scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Benfica as Real Madrid progressed 3-1 on aggregate
• The Brazilian celebrated by dancing in front of home supporters after a week dominated by racism allegations
• Madrid advanced despite the absence of injured forward Kylian Mbappé

After a week dominated by controversy, Vinícius Júnior delivered on the pitch, scoring the decisive goal as Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2-1 to secure their place in the Champions League round of 16.

The Brazilian struck in the 80th minute at the Santiago Bernabéu, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory for the 15 time European champions and providing a fitting response to the events of the first leg, when he accused Benfica substitute Gianluca Prestianni of directing racist abuse at him.

Vinícius celebrated his goal by dancing beside the corner flag, a gesture that had sparked confrontation in Lisbon. This time, it was greeted with approval from the home supporters, who had unfurled banners reading “No to racism” and “Respect” before kickoff.

“I’m glad Vini dances and keeps dancing, that means he’s scoring goals,” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. “That’s our Vinícius.”

Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who equalised in the 16th minute after Benfica had taken an early lead through Rafa Silva, echoed the sentiment. His goal shifted the momentum back toward Madrid, who gradually asserted control in a tie that had begun with tension and hostility.

Prestianni, who denies the allegations and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended by UEFA and did not feature despite travelling with the squad. UEFA rejected Benfica’s appeal earlier on Wednesday, leaving the Argentine unavailable for the decisive second leg.

The match atmosphere remained charged. More than 3,000 visiting supporters jeered Vinícius from the opening whistle, intensifying their boos whenever he touched the ball. The noise faded as Madrid took command and Vinícius again became the central figure, finishing calmly on a breakaway for his sixth goal in five matches.

Madrid confirmed after the match that a supporter had been identified and expelled from the stadium after television footage appeared to show a Nazi salute before kickoff. The club said it had urgently requested disciplinary action and reiterated its condemnation of gestures that incite hatred and violence.

On the pitch, there were further concerns when defender Raúl Asencio was stretchered off after a heavy collision with Eduardo Camavinga. He was taken to hospital for precautionary tests, with coach Álvaro Arbeloa later confirming the injury was not serious.

Madrid were already without Kylian Mbappé, sidelined by a knee problem, and Arbeloa underlined the importance of Vinícius in his absence.

“Without Kylian, we need him even more,” the coach said. “He has to be our leader.”

On a night where the focus was firmly on his response to adversity, Vinícius ensured it was his football that delivered the final word.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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