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Champions League big guns seal last-16 spots
AP •  February 26th, 2026 1:00 pm
Vinicius Jr | Photo: AP
With the winning goal and another corner-flag dance, Vinicius Junior fittingly had the final say in an emotionally charged rematch with Benfica to guide Real Madrid into the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain also advanced out of the playoffs on Thursday (NZ time), but Juventus went out after extra-time despite winning on the night.
Fellow Italian club Atalanta completed a remarkable comeback, also at home, with a last-second goal to maintain their involvement in the competition.
Playing a week after being the target of alleged racial abuse in the first leg in Portugal, Vinicius wrapped up Madrid's 2-1 win — and a 3-1 victory on aggregate — with his team's second goal in the 80th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
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The Brazil star celebrated his goal like he did last week, by dancing beside the corner flag.
Benfica opened the scoring in the 14th minute through Rafa Silva to briefly bring the score level at 1-1 on aggregate, only for Aurelien Tchouameni to equalise two minutes later.
PSG, who won the competition for the first time last season, also fell behind to fellow Ligue 1 club Monaco but recovered to draw 2-2 and advance 5-4 on aggregate.
Juventus trailed 5-2 from the first leg in Istanbul, but took the return clash to extra-time thanks to goals from Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Weston McKennie.
But 10-man Juve were finally brought to their knees in Turin thanks to Victor Osimhen and Barıs Alper Yılmaz strikes for Galatasaray's 7-5 aggregate triumph.
Earlier in the night, Atalanta substitute Lazar Samardzic converted a penalty with the last kick of the game against Borussia Dortmund in the eighth minute of added time following a video review to seal a 4-1 win on the night and a 4-3 victory on aggregate in Bergamo.
