In fact it needed to be him. Eight days on from claims he was racially abused in Lisbon, Vinicius Jr scored the purpose that ended Benfica’s problem and despatched Real Madrid by means of to the final 16 of the Champions League.
With alleged perpetrator Gianluca Prestianni absent as a consequence of a provisional UEFA ban – the Argentine vehemently denies any wrongdoing – the Brazilian was denied a head-to-head together with his fellow South American.
However there was nonetheless an edge to the event and, though it was a far-from-comfortable night for the 15-time champions, it was becoming that Vinicius Jr had the ultimate say. His composed end after 81 minutes was adopted by the corner-flag dance that sparked the rumpus on the Estadio da Luz.
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was not present to witness it with reports suggesting he had opted to watch the game from the team bus relatively than within the stands after being banned from the touchline as a consequence of his pink card final week.
He would have been impressed by his staff’s show, though it was finally in useless.
Madrid’s followers made their emotions recognized earlier than the sport with a big banner that learn “no to racism”.
Given the animosity between the groups final week, Madrid have been anticipated to come back roaring out of the blocks however, as a substitute, they have been surprisingly passive, permitting Benfica to take management early on.
And that was rewarded after quarter-hour. Richard Rios performed in Vangelis Pavlidis down the precise and his low cross was diverted goalwards by lunging dwelling defender Raul Asencio. Thibaut Courtois made the save however Rafa Silva bundled within the rebound.
The guests’ lead lasted barely two minutes as Federico Valverde slipped the ball to Aurelien Tchouameni and he curled an excellent effort previous Anatoliy Trubin for his first Champions League purpose.
Benfica virtually went again in entrance after 25 minutes however Pavlidis inadvertently took Fredrik Aursnes’ cross away from Rafa Silva, who would have had a tap-in.
Vinicius Jr sparks into life
Vinicius Jr had been a peripheral determine to that time however he virtually created Madrid’s second with a jinking run and cross that was knocked down by Valverde for Gonzalo Garcia. The younger striker, standing in for the injured Kylian Mbappe, missed his kick however Arda Guler adopted in to attain. The celebrations have been lower brief, nevertheless, with the offside flag raised.
Courtois saved brilliantly from Rios as Benfica ended a formidable first half on the entrance foot.
Valverde missed his kick when effectively positioned 4 minutes into the second half earlier than Benfica’s veteran centre-back Nicolas Otamendi clattered into each Vinicius and Tchouameni to earn the primary yellow card of the night.
Asencio quickly evened up the numbers with a mindless problem on Rafa Silva.
Former Portugal ahead Rafa Silva was proving an actual menace for the Madrid backline and his 62nd-minute shot clipped Asencio earlier than hanging the bar and dropping over.
Vinicius Jr has the ultimate say
The sport entered a scrappy interval – Madrid reticent to danger an excessive amount of and Benfica struggling to make inroads going ahead – earlier than Vinicius Jr’s intervention with 9 minutes to go.
Valverde received the ball in the course of the sector and set the winger away down the left. He drew Trubin and coolly slotted the ball into the far nook.
Alvaro Carreras did brilliantly to flick clear a harmful cross as Benfica threatened to hit straight again however the guests couldn’t muster the vitality, nor the struggle, to conjure up an equaliser and Alvaro Arbeloa’s facet superior to a last-16 tie in opposition to both Manchester Metropolis or Sporting CP.
