SL Benfica surprised many fans in this encounter, with José Mourinho building a strong and competitive side. The first half was very tough, as Benfica matched Real Madrid CF in intensity and made it difficult for them to settle.
But in the second half, Madrid gradually took control of the tempo. Their experience began to show, and then came a moment of brilliance from Vinícius Júnior.
Vinícius is currently in the form of his life. His level right now is exceptional. Recall that he scored two goals in Madrid’s 4:1 victory over Real Sociedad, a win that helped Madrid overtake FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga, even when Kylian Mbappé was rested ahead of this Benfica game.
In this match, Mbappé was not as impactful as Vinícius. While he worked hard, it was Vinícius who made the decisive difference. His performance has now given Madrid strong confidence heading into the second leg, which will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu.
With this victory, Madrid have extended their unbeaten run from eight matches to nine as fans celebrated both the team and Vinícius for another outstanding display.
However, the match was not without controversy. Mourinho received a red card, meaning he will be absent for the second leg. A lot happened during the game, and as Softfootball understands, UEFA could possibly look into some of the incidents from the encounter.
For now, Madrid take the advantage and momentum, while Benfica must regroup without their manager on the touchline for the return leg.
