Of course it had to be him. Eight days on from claims he was racially abused in Lisbon, Vinicius Jr scored the goal that ended Benfica’s challenge and sent Real Madrid through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
With alleged perpetrator Gianluca Prestianni absent due to a provisional UEFA ban – the Argentine vehemently denies any wrongdoing – the Brazilian was denied a head-to-head with his fellow South American.
But there was still an edge to the occasion and, although it was a far-from-comfortable evening for the 15-time champions, it was fitting that Vinicius Jr had the final say. His composed finish after 81 minutes was followed by the corner-flag dance that sparked the rumpus at the Estadio da Luz.
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was not present to witness it with reports suggesting he had opted to watch the game from the team bus rather than in the stands after being banned from the touchline due to his red card last week.
He would have been impressed by his team’s display, even though it was ultimately in vain.
Madrid’s fans made their feelings known before the game with a large banner that read “no to racism”.
Given the animosity between the teams last week, Madrid were expected to come roaring out of the blocks but, instead, they were strangely passive, allowing Benfica to take control early on.
And that was rewarded after 15 minutes. Richard Rios played in Vangelis Pavlidis down the right and his low cross was diverted goalwards by lunging home defender Raul Asencio. Thibaut Courtois made the save but Rafa Silva bundled in the rebound.
The visitors’ lead lasted barely two minutes as Federico Valverde slipped the ball to Aurelien Tchouameni and he curled a brilliant effort past Anatoliy Trubin for his first Champions League goal.
Benfica almost went back in front after 25 minutes but Pavlidis inadvertently took Fredrik Aursnes’ cross away from Rafa Silva, who would have had a tap-in.
Vinicius Jr sparks into life
Vinicius Jr had been a peripheral figure to that point but he almost created Madrid’s second with a jinking run and cross that was knocked down by Valverde for Gonzalo Garcia. The young striker, standing in for the injured Kylian Mbappe, missed his kick but Arda Guler followed in to score. The celebrations were cut short, however, with the offside flag raised.
Courtois saved brilliantly from Rios as Benfica ended an impressive first half on the front foot.
Valverde missed his kick when well placed four minutes into the second half before Benfica’s veteran centre-back Nicolas Otamendi clattered into both Vinicius and Tchouameni to earn the first yellow card of the evening.
Asencio soon evened up the numbers with a senseless challenge on Rafa Silva.
Former Portugal forward Rafa Silva was proving a real menace for the Madrid backline and his 62nd-minute shot clipped Asencio before striking the bar and dropping over.
Vinicius Jr has the final say
The game entered a scrappy period – Madrid reticent to risk too much and Benfica struggling to make inroads going forward – before Vinicius Jr’s intervention with nine minutes to go.
Valverde won the ball in the middle of the field and set the winger away down the left. He drew Trubin and coolly slotted the ball into the far corner.
Alvaro Carreras did brilliantly to flick clear a dangerous cross as Benfica threatened to hit straight back but the visitors could not muster the energy, nor the fight, to conjure up an equaliser and Alvaro Arbeloa’s side advanced to a last-16 tie against either Manchester City or Sporting CP.
