Real Madrid Learns Its Lessons: No Repeat of Past Mistakes Against Benfica

Portugal - Ekhbary News Agency

Real Madrid Learns Its Lessons: No Repeat of Past Mistakes Against Benfica

Just three weeks after suffering a surprising and chastening 4-2 defeat at the Estadio da Luz against Benfica, Real Madrid found themselves back in Lisbon to face the Portuguese side once more in the Champions League playoffs. This time, however, the narrative was entirely different. There was no last-gasp headed goal from a goalkeeper, nor were there celebratory tears from Benfica manager José Mourinho. Instead, Real Madrid emerged with a hard-fought 1-0 victory, carrying a valuable advantage into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next week.

The return to Lisbon saw a visiting team that was a stark contrast to the one defeated weeks prior. "We saw a totally different Real Madrid," commented coach Álvaro Arbeloa. The team's performance was characterized by composure and control, a far cry from the disarray that marked the previous encounter. Real Madrid had absorbed the harsh lessons from the humbling defeat that saw them tumble out of the Champions League elite eight and into the Europa League knockout rounds. They demonstrated complete preparedness and tactical acumen for this crucial fixture.

Despite the evident improvement, the match was not without its moments of extreme tension and emotion. The most prominent of these was Vinícius Júnior's spectacular 50th-minute goal, followed by a 10-minute stoppage. During this pause, Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse, prompting the referee to invoke UEFA's anti-racism protocol. This incident cast a shadow over the remainder of the game and the post-match discussions. "This can't happen," stated Aurélien Tchouaméni, while Kylian Mbappé remarked that Prestianni "did not deserve to play in the Champions League again." Arbeloa affirmed that the team would have been prepared to walk off the pitch with Vinícius had he requested it.

In contrast to the previous fixture, Mourinho did not end the night embracing a ball boy in celebration. Instead, he found himself in the stands, disgruntled, after receiving a red card for protesting a referee's decision late in the second half. Post-match, he criticized Vinícius' goal celebration. On January 28th, it was Mourinho who had been lauded for his team's performance, masterfully exposing the fragility and naivety of Real Madrid, along with their defensive and midfield vulnerabilities. Now, it was Arbeloa's turn to showcase his tactical prowess.

Arbeloa, a disciple of Mourinho, learned from the past experience and strategically prepared his team. In this match, Real Madrid adopted a compact 4-4-2 formation. Eduardo Camavinga was tasked with providing defensive cover for left-back Álvaro Carreras, while Federico Valverde mirrored this role on the right flank, shielding right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. If there was a perception that Real Madrid had underestimated Benfica in January, that notion was completely dispelled this time around. Prior to the game, Benfica had done everything to foster a sense that lightning could indeed strike twice. As the stadium lights dimmed moments before kickoff, a video on the giant screens began by showcasing Anatoliy Trubin's 98th-minute header from three weeks ago, alongside images of Mourinho's tears.

A colossal banner depicting an eagle, the club's symbol, was unveiled along one side of the pitch, bearing just three words: "Until the end." Trubin's goal in the eighth minute of added time had secured Benfica's qualification for the knockout rounds. They would require a similar spirit if they were to overcome Real Madrid, the "Kings of Europe," over two playoff legs. The home side started strongly, with an expectant and vocal crowd. However, as the first half progressed, Real Madrid's dominance grew. Chances fell to Vinícius, Mbappé, and Arda Güler, though the standout moment of the first half was Thibaut Courtois' full-stretch save from Fredrik Aursnes.

At halftime, the momentum was so firmly with Real Madrid that a goal felt inevitable. When it arrived, the only surprise was the sheer brilliance of the strike. Vinícius cut inside from the left wing and curled a shot over goalkeeper Trubin into the top corner. Vinícius celebrated with a dance by the corner flag. The Brazilian has endured a difficult season, marked by inconsistent form and stalled contract negotiations. He has now scored in three consecutive appearances this month and has demonstrated in crucial moments – here and with his equally breathtaking goal in the Supercopa de España against Barcelona – that he remains one of the world's most decisive players.

And then, with that goal, the game effectively stopped. Not just for 10 minutes, but almost definitively. The match never recaptured its previous rhythm, and much of the attention, inevitably and rightly, was focused on the incident involving Vinícius. "Until the goal, it was a great game," Mourinho admitted post-match. "After that, the game ended." Mourinho's red card means he will be absent from the dugout at the Bernabéu next week. Real Madrid will enter that tie as favorites to progress to the last 16, their sense of superiority likely greater than Tuesday's narrow 1-0 scoreline suggests. What Benfica achieved last month proved to be an unrepeatable feat.

Ekhbary News Agency