The iconic sight of Vinícius Júnior dancing by the corner flag has become the definitive image of Real Madrid’s European campaign. On Wednesday night, the Brazilian winger reprised his celebration against Benfica, scoring from an almost identical angle to his first-leg strike. However, the context was vastly different; while eight days ago he danced in blue amidst a storm of racial abuse that halted play for ten minutes, tonight he danced in the traditional white of Madrid, celebratory and defiant.
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Real Madrid Weather the Benfica Storm
Despite the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappé, the record thirteen-time winners secured their place in the Round of 16 with a 2–1 victory on the night, progressing 3–1 on aggregate. The evening began with a scare for the home supporters when Benfica’s Rafa Silva silenced the Bernabéu in the 14th minute, levelling the aggregate score.
The parity lasted a mere two minutes. Aurélien Tchouaméni restored Madrid’s overall lead with a clinical finish. As both sides squandered chances to alter the scoreline, it was left to Vinícius to settle nerves in the 80th minute, ensuring Carlo Ancelotti’s men avoid any late drama. Notably, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, the focus of the racism allegations from the first leg, was absent from the squad following a provisional suspension.
PSG Survive Monaco Thriller
The reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, secured their passage to the knockout stages despite a frantic 2–2 draw against domestic rivals Monaco at the Parc des Princes. Having staged a remarkable comeback from 0–2 down to win the first leg 3–2, PSG progressed with a narrow 5–4 aggregate victory.
The match turned in the 58th minute when Monaco’s Mamadou Coulibaly was shown a red card. PSG capitalised almost immediately through Marquinhos, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put the Parisians ahead. Although Monaco grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser, the champions held on to secure a date with either Barcelona or Chelsea.
Champions League Round of 16 Progress Table
| Club | Aggregate Score | Opponent | Possible Next Opponents |
| Real Madrid | 3–1 | Benfica | Man City / Sporting CP |
| PSG | 5–4 | Monaco | Barcelona / Chelsea |
| Atalanta | 4–3 | B. Dortmund | Arsenal / Bayern Munich |
| Galatasaray | 7–5 | Juventus | Liverpool / Tottenham |
Atalanta’s Bergamo Miracle
The story of the night belonged to Atalanta, who produced a historic comeback against Borussia Dortmund. Trailing 2–0 from the first leg, the Italian side levelled the aggregate score before half-time through Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta.
The drama peaked in extra time when a VAR review awarded Atalanta a penalty in the 98th minute. Lazar Samardžić converted with ice-cold precision to secure a 4–1 win (4–3 aggregate). This victory saved Italian pride; with Napoli and Inter Milan already eliminated, Atalanta ensured that Italy has maintained a presence in the Round of 16 every year since the 2003-04 season.
Heartbreak for the Old Lady
Juventus came agonisingly close to their own “Bergamo Miracle.” After a disastrous 5–2 defeat in Turkey against Galatasaray, the Italians fought back to lead 3–0 within 90 minutes, forcing extra time. However, the dream evaporated when Victor Osimhen and Barış Yılmaz struck in the added period to send the Turkish giants through 7–5 on aggregate.