Vinicius Jr on track once more as Real remove Mourinho’s Benficaprinted at 22:56 GMT
FT: Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg)
Gary Rose
BBC Sport
Vinicius Jr scored as Real Madrid secured their place within the final 16 of the Champions League with victory over Benfica on the Bernabeu.
The ahead had been the centre of focus within the build-up to the sport, having alleged he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni shortly after scoring the one aim within the first leg.
Prestianni was subsequently handed a one-match ban, which means he missed Wednesday’s return leg, whereas help was proven for Vinicius Jr by the house followers as a banner with the phrases “no to racism” in Spanish was displayed within the stands earlier than kick-off.
Vinicius Jr then ensured soccer was the main target throughout the sport as he scored the winner, driving a medical end throughout the goalkeeper with 10 minutes to go to wrap up a 3-1 victory on combination.
Benfica, to their credit score, had put up loads of combat earlier than then and had taken the lead within the 14th minute when Rafa Silva turned in a unfastened ball after Thibaut Courtois had prevented Raúl Asencio’s tried clearance from going into his personal internet.
That lead lasted simply two minutes, nonetheless, as Aurelien Tchouameni curled dwelling a superb strike from the sting of the field for his first Champions League aim.
Real had been with out the injured Kylian Mbappe they usually missed his expertise in assault, as Benfica as a substitute regarded a menace to rating once more and stage up the tie on combination.
But Vinicius Jr continued his wonderful latest type together with his sixth aim in 5 games to guarantee Real Madrid can look ahead to dealing with both Manchester City or Sporting within the final 16.
