Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid: Vinicius Jr's Only Goal Secures Narrow Win for Los Blancos in Chaotic UCL Playoff

The first half of the Benfica vs Real Madrid game panned out to be a balanced affair, with both teams enjoying possession for a certain period. In the final minutes before the break, Los Blancos put some pressure on the Benfica defence, but Jose Mourinho’s side proved unbreakable. As no team was able to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes, the score remained goalless at the interval.

Chaos unfolded early in the second half, after Vinicius Jr. scored the opener with a brilliant finish to put Real Madrid in front in the away Champions League playoff game. The Brazilian forward was shown a yellow card for his celebration involving the corner flag.

What followed was quite unexpected. The match was about to resume when Vinicius rushed to the referee and supposedly complained about Gianluca Prestianni, who was caught engaging in a war of words with the Madrid star.

The official had to call for a time-out until the situation was under control. Later in the game, Mourinho was sent off for arguing with the referee over a potential card. Benfica failed to turn the game around as Real Madrid won the first leg of the UCL clash by a narrow margin of one goal. Check out Benfica vs Real Madrid player ratings from the Champions League fixture.

Key Takeaways

1. Vinícius Júnior scored early in the second half to give Real Madrid the lead in the UEFA Champions League playoff.
2. The goal was followed by a heated confrontation involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni, forcing the referee to halt the game briefly.
3. José Mourinho was sent off as Benfica failed to find an equaliser.

Benfica Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Check out Benfica player ratings from the UCL match against Real Madrid:

Goalkeeper

Anatoliy Trubin - 8.0: Simply sensational. Without a doubt, Benfica's man of the match. He made six crucial saves, several of which were top-drawer stops to deny Mbappé and Güler. He was commanding, punching clear when needed and showing great bravery. The goal was unstoppable, but he kept his team in the game single-handedly. A truly heroic performance.

Defenders

Amar Dedić - 6.5: A very busy night for the right-back. He was constantly engaged in duels and made a few important tackles and clearances. However, he struggled against the pace of Madrid's forwards, losing eight of his sixteen duels. He got forward to support the attack, even testing Courtois once, but was stretched defensively.

Tomás Araújo - 7.0: A rock at the back. We noticed his ten clearances, a testament to his positioning and reading of the game. He threw his body on the line, blocking shots and winning his battles. He had one nervy moment leading to a corner, but overall, a very strong and composed display against a world-class attack.

Nicolás Otamendi - 7.0: The veteran leader marshaled his backline with typical aggression and experience. He won all of his duels and made several key interceptions. His passing was crisp, and he organized the defense well under immense pressure. A warrior's performance from the captain.

Samuel Dahl - 7.0: A very solid outing from the left-back. He was defensively sound, winning most of his duels and making nine ball recoveries. What stood out was his composure on the ball, linking up play well with an 83% pass accuracy. He provided a good balance between his defensive duties and supporting attacks.

Midfielders

Fredrik Aursnes - 6.5: A tireless worker in the midfield engine room. He covered a lot of ground and his passing was tidy and accurate. He even created a great chance with a perfect cross in the first half. He was eventually substituted, but his work rate was commendable throughout.

Leandro Barreiro - 6.0: He was neat in possession but struggled to impose himself on the game against Madrid's dominant midfield. He battled hard, winning a decent number of duels, but was often bypassed. A functional performance but lacked the creative spark needed to unlock the opposition defense.

Gianluca Prestianni - 5.0: A really disappointing night for the young winger. He was wasteful in possession and lost the ball far too often. His decision-making was poor, and he capped off a frustrating performance with a yellow card for a dive. It just wasn't his game, he never looked comfortable.

Rafa Silva - 6.0: He looked like Benfica's most likely source of a creative spark before being substituted. He drew fouls and tried to make things happen but was well-marshalled by Madrid's defense. He had one shot off target and showed flashes of his quality, but his influence faded.

Andreas Schjelderup - 5.5: Largely anonymous. He struggled to get into the game and had minimal impact in the final third. He worked hard off the ball but offered very little when Benfica were in possession before being taken off.

Forwards

Vangelis Pavlidis - 5.5: A thankless task leading the line on his own. He was completely isolated, feeding off scraps. He held the ball up when he could but was starved of any real service. It's hard to rate him any higher given the circumstances.

Substitutes

Richard Ríos - 6.0: Came on and tried to add some energy.

Heorhii Sudakov - 5.5: Picked up a yellow card shortly after coming on.

Sidny Cabral - 6.0: Had a shot from distance that went over.

Dodi Lukébakio - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Manager

José Mourinho - 6.5: His game plan almost worked to perfection. He set his team up to be compact, disciplined, and incredibly difficult to break down. For large parts of the game, it frustrated Madrid. However, the lack of attacking intent at home was a bit concerning, and ultimately, they were undone by one moment of quality.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Benfica

Here are Sportsdunia's Real Madrid player ratings from the UCL fixture against Benfica:

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 7.5: Wasn't as busy as his counterpart but was flawless when called upon. He made a fantastic save in the first half from Araújo's header to keep the scores level. His distribution was excellent, and he commanded his area with authority. A clean sheet earned.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7.0: A typical performance. Solid defensively for the most part, making three interceptions. His real contribution was going forward, delivering dangerous crosses and creating two chances, including one big one. He was a constant outlet on the right flank.

Dean Huijsen - 8.0: An absolutely colossal performance. From our perspective, he was Madrid's best player. He had a staggering 118 touches, was imperious in the air, and made crucial tackles and clearances. His passing from the back was progressive and accurate. A truly dominant display from the young defender.

Antonio Rüdiger - 7.0: Did exactly what was asked of him. He was a no-nonsense physical presence, making nine clearances and snuffing out danger before it developed. He didn't have to make many tackles but his positioning was spot on. A quiet but very effective evening.

Álvaro Carreras - 7.0: A strong showing from the left-back. He was defensively reliable and very comfortable in possession, completing 87% of his passes. He recovered the ball eight times and got forward well, attempting a few dribbles. A well-rounded performance.

Midfielders

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 7.5: The shield in front of the defense. He was a monster, breaking up play with four interceptions and three successful tackles. He was immense in the air and composed on the ball, recycling possession effectively. He allowed the more creative players to flourish.

Federico Valverde - 7.0: The captain led by example with an all-action display. His energy was infectious, covering every blade of grass. He contributed both defensively and offensively, creating two chances and keeping the tempo high. A proper captain's knock.

Eduardo Camavinga - 6.5: A mixed bag. He was everywhere, making a remarkable six tackles, but was also a bit reckless, committing three fouls. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking. His energy is a huge asset, but he needs a little more composure at times.

Forwards

Arda Güler - 7.0: Looked very lively and was a constant threat. He had four shots, forcing two good saves from Trubin. His movement was intelligent, and he was always looking to make something happen. A really bright and promising performance before being subbed.

Kylian Mbappé - 6.5: This was a strange one. He got the crucial assist for the winning goal, which is ultimately what matters. However, his finishing was shockingly poor. He missed three big chances and could have had a hat-trick on another night. His rating reflects his match-winning contribution, but it was far from a vintage performance.

Vinicius Junior - 7.5: The match-winner. He was a menace all game, constantly running at the Benfica defense. He took his goal with absolute class, a brilliant finish into the top corner. He drew fouls, created chances, and provided the one moment of magic that decided this tight contest. Deserved his goal.

Substitutes

Brahim Díaz - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Thiago Pitarch - N/A: Came on late to see out the game.

Dani Carvajal - N/A: A very late substitution.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 7.5: His tactics were spot on. He set his team up to control the game and be patient against a deep-lying defense. He trusted his star players to produce a moment of quality, and they delivered. Getting a 1-0 away win in a Champions League knockout game is a job very well done.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Benfica's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

Worst Performer

Gianluca Prestianni could not deliver anything notable for SL Benfica.