Real Madrid beat Benfica 3-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League knockout stage, with Vinicius Junior scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 second-leg win at the Bernabeu.

UCL: Real Madrid beat Benfica 3-1 on aggregate to advance knockout stage

Real Madrid beat Benfica 3-1 on aggregate to reach the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Madrid won 2-1 in Wednesday’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu to seal their place in the last 16.

Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute. He ran onto a pass from Federico Valverde and calmly slotted past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

The tie had been overshadowed by allegations from the first leg in Lisbon. Vinicius accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racial abuse. Prestianni denied the claim. UEFA is investigating the matter, and the midfielder missed the return leg after his appeal against a provisional one-match ban was rejected.

Madrid showed support before kick-off with a banner inside the stadium that read “no to racism”.

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Benfica took the lead in the 14th minute. Raul Asencio’s clearance went toward his own goal, and although Thibaut Courtois stopped it, Rafa Silva reacted quickly to score from close range.

Madrid responded almost immediately.

Aurelien Tchouameni equalised two minutes later with a firm strike from the edge of the box after good work from Valverde.

The hosts, without injured forward Kylian Mbappe, had to stay patient as Benfica pushed forward.

But Vinicius settled the contest late on to confirm Madrid’s progress into the next round.