Three things you might have missed from Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica

It was not a normal European night at the Santiago Bernabeu. It felt tense long before kick-off.

To even get inside the stadium to watch Real Madrid face Benfica, supporters had to pass through scenes that looked closer to a security operation than a football match.

More than 1,800 police officers were deployed around the ground, as the authorities expected trouble.

This is because the first leg had been heated, especially after the clash between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr.

That incident had not cooled down in the days leading up to the return fixture. The atmosphere was already charged.

On the pitch, though, Real Madrid once again found their answer in Vinicius.

The Brazilian forward, who had been at the centre of controversy after the first leg, responded in the best possible way.

He scored again, proving that in moments of pressure, he remains Madrid’s main man.

The 2-1 victory over Benfica secured qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16. It was not vintage Madrid. It was not dominant. But it was enough.

While much has already been said about the match itself, there were several important moments off the ball and off the pitch that deserve attention.

Before the match had even started, a serious incident took place inside the stadium.

– Wednesday, 25 February 2026

A supporter from the Real Madrid Fan Stand was identified after making a Nazi salute during the build-up.

Cameras clearly caught the fan raising his right arm multiple times in a gesture associated with the extremist movement.

Security acted quickly and the individual was removed from the stadium immediately. The club did not hesitate either.

Shortly after the match, Real Madrid released an official statement confirming firm action would follow. The club made its position very clear.

“Real Madrid C. F. announces that it has urgently requested the club’s Disciplinary Committee to initiate immediate proceedings to expel the member who was caught on television cameras making a Nazi salute in the area where the supporters’ stand is located, moments before the start of the match between Real Madrid and Benfica,” read the statement.

Before the ball was kicked, there was another strong moment inside the Bernabeu.

Vinicius received loud support from the home crowd. After the incident in Lisbon during the first leg, many were curious about how he would react.

– Wednesday, 25 February 2026

It did not take long for the Brazilian to make his presence felt. His goal was not just important for the scoreline.

Some even believed he intentionally repeated the celebration that had angered fans in the first leg.

Benfica supporters still see him as a villain. But football has a way of forcing respect. Even some of their own players showed it.

As seen, Sidny Lopes Cabral approached Vinicius after the match and asked for his shirt.

The gesture did not sit well with parts of the Benfica fanbase, who had strongly backed Prestianni.

Still, on the pitch, Vinicius had the final word.

Strangely, despite the qualification, there was no feeling of celebration inside the stadium.

– Wednesday, 25 February 2026

For the second year in a row, Real Madrid found themselves in an uncomfortable tie. It was another reminder of a season that has been far from calm.

There was no special welcome for the team before kick-off. No grand display. Even when Vinicius scored, some fans began leaving before the final whistle, as if this were just another routine match.

Meanwhile, around 4,000 Benfica supporters never stopped singing. Even when the tie was slipping away, they continued to back their team.

Their voices echoed around a stadium that, for long periods, remained quiet.

It was an unusual scene. Santiago Bernabeu was silent, while the away section felt alive.