The Honest February 26, 2026 SPORTS
MADRID, SPAIN | Xinhua | Accurate Madrid evolved to the Champions League final 16 on Wednesday with a 2-1 residence make a choice over Benfica, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Vinicius Jr. scored the decisive aim in the eightieth minute to resolve an anxious night at the Santiago Bernabeu, the set aside aside the tie used to be stage on the evening and the hosts struggled for prolonged spells.
Benfica, missing suspended coach Jose Mourinho, began with urgency and drew stage on aggregate when Rafa Silva done from discontinuance fluctuate after a provocative go down the right. Accurate responded nearly with out lengthen as Federico Valverde pulled the ball support for Aurelien Tchouameni, who curled in the equalizer.
The game remained open. Arda Guler had a aim dominated out for offside midway thru the necessary half of, and the 2d interval used to be played at a excessive tempo but with tiny precision as Madrid mislaid easy passes and the gang grew stressed out.
Accurate used to be with out Kylian Mbappe thanks to a knee harm. Benfica also passed over ahead Gianluca Prestianni, who used to be provisionally suspended following an alleged racist insult geared in direction of Vinicius in final week’s first leg.
Madrid suffered a scare in the 77th minute when Raul Asencio used to be carried off after a heavy tumble. As Benfica pushed ahead looking out for a aim, Valverde launched Vinicius down the internal-left channel, and the Brazilian angled his cease past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to salvage qualification.
Accurate Madrid will face both Manchester Metropolis or Carrying CP in the round of 16. ■
