Real Madrid Secure Slim 1-0 Advantage Over Benfica in Champions League First Leg

February 18, 2026

Real Madrid edged Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie at the Santiago Bernabéu last night, taking a narrow lead into the return fixture in Lisbon next month. The only goal came in the 67th minute when Vinícius Júnior converted a low cross from Jude Bellingham with a clinical first-time finish, breaking the deadlock after a tense and largely cagey contest.

The defending European champions dominated possession (62%) and created the clearer chances, with Kylian Mbappé striking the post early in the second half and Anatoliy Trubin making several key saves to keep Benfica in the tie. The Portuguese side, however, defended resolutely and nearly equalized late when Ángel Di María forced a sharp save from Thibaut Courtois from a free-kick.

Carlo Ancelotti's side controlled the tempo but struggled to convert dominance into goals against a well-organized Benfica defense led by António Silva and Nicolás Otamendi. The narrow win keeps the tie alive heading into the second leg at Estádio da Luz on March 5.

Ancelotti praised his team’s patience while acknowledging Benfica’s threat on the counter. “We controlled the game, created chances, and got the goal. It wasn’t our most fluid night, but the important thing is the clean sheet and the advantage. Lisbon will be very difficult — they are dangerous at home.”

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt remained defiant: “We came here to compete, we limited their chances, and we scored a very good goal that was wrongly disallowed. The tie is completely open. We believe we can turn it around in front of our fans.”

Match Key Stats

• Possession: Real Madrid 62% – Benfica 38%
• Shots (on target): Real Madrid 14 (5) – Benfica 7 (2)
• Corners: Real Madrid 7 – Benfica 3
• Fouls: Real Madrid 11 – Benfica 14
• Yellow cards: 2 (Real Madrid) – 3 (Benfica)

Other Champions League Round of 16 First-Leg Results (February 17)

• Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 Paris Saint-Germain
• Club Brugge 1–2 Atlético Madrid
• Sporting CP 2–1 Borussia Dortmund

The second legs take place March 4–5, with the quarter-final draw immediately afterward. Real Madrid vs Benfica remains one of the most finely balanced ties, with Benfica’s home form and counter-attacking threat giving them real hope of overturning the deficit. Live coverage and full highlights are available on UEFA.tv, Paramount+, TNT Sports, and regional broadcasters.