Vinicius Jr Steals the Show as Real Madrid Stumble Past Mourinho's Benfica

Real Madrid's march into the Champions League last 16 continues unbroken since 1997, but you'd be forgiven for thinking they'd scraped through rather than earned it after this peculiar evening at a strangely quiet Bernabéu.

Vinicius Jr got his moment in the sun—and frankly deserved it after the week he's endured—but his finish proved a rare flash of genuine quality in what was otherwise a bewilderingly poor spectacle between two clubs whose names are forever etched into European Cup folklore.

Benfica came out swinging and looked genuinely threatening in the opening stages, only to fade into insignificance against a Madrid side that looked ripe for the plucking. Strip away Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, and you'll notice the difference. But watching Carlo Ancelotti's men shuffle around the pitch with such mechanical tedium remains jarring nonetheless.

This wasn't about inspiration—it was barely about perspiration either. Whether Álvaro Arbeloa is orchestrating this shapeless display or the players have simply abandoned structure altogether remains unclear, but Real Madrid looked fundamentally disorganised. A fluid attacking setup requires some semblance of underlying framework; what unfolded here was pure chaos masquerading as flexibility.

The defensive shambles early on was particularly troubling. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who'd go on to be one of Madrid's better performers by default, seemed utterly lost for Benfica's opener, wandering off on an errand to parts unknown. That early lead for the visitors might have changed the entire complexion of the tie had they managed to hold it beyond a couple of minutes.

Instead, a calamitous Nicolas Otamendi pass—the sort of elementary mistake you'd expect from someone far less experienced—handed Aurélien Tchouaméni the chance to restore parity in the tie. It's precisely the kind of goal that would set José Mourinho's teeth on edge, particularly given what came next.

The two genuine moments of class Madrid conjured all evening both ended in the net. Tchouaméni's finish was one; Vinicius Jr's second, set up by Fédérico Valverde's exquisite long pass, was a reminder that this team contains genuine quality when it clicks. Both goals felt transplanted from an entirely different, far superior match.

Benfica probably exhausted their allocation of miracles during that absurd group-stage conclusion against these same opponents. Still, losing to Real Madrid rarely feels like a wasted opportunity—yet this performance suggested it genuinely was one. Had Benfica maintained their deserved advantage for any meaningful duration, the mounting tension inside the stadium could have done serious damage to an already unconvincing Madrid display.

The 15-time champions must hope their walking wounded return before the knockout stages properly begin. On this evidence, they have no choice. There's simply no pathway to a 16th title playing like this.

Manchester City might be lurking in the draw, and on recent form, Pep Guardiola will be crossing his fingers that the UEFA goldfish bowl delivers them anyone but the suddenly vulnerable-looking Madrid side.