“Four lessons from Real Madrid’s redemptive triumph over Benfica in the Champions League.”

Real Madrid demonstrated its strength at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Wednesday night, securing a crucial 2-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs, which ensured them a place in the round of 16. However, the match did not start in the best way, with Rafa Silva opening the scoring for the visitors in the 14th minute, temporarily leveling the tie. Nevertheless, the response from the Merengues was overwhelming, with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Vinicius Junior sealing the victory and progression to the next stage.

Álvaro Arbeloa’s team, despite avoiding disaster, left some concerning questions for the future. Here are four lessons we learned from another Champions League victory under the lights of the Bernabéu.

A mediocre midfield proves its worth.

Since the departure of icons like Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić, the remaining midfielders of Real Madrid have faced criticism, especially after Jude Bellingham’s injury at the beginning of February. However, in this decisive match, the midfield players proved their worth. Tchouaméni was the hero of the first half, scoring a spectacular goal that evoked memories of Kroos, marking his first goal in the Champions League. This moment was made possible by teammate Federico Valverde, who also played a key role in the build-up to the second goal, although a goal from Arda Güler was disallowed for offside. The true second goal came from Vinicius Jr., once again assisted by Valverde. After a difficult season, these players deserve recognition for their creativity and freedom on the pitch, which had been lacking in previous weeks.

Defensive Difficulties Continue to Haunt Real Madrid

The defensive weaknesses of Real Madrid have been a recurring theme over the past two years, and Benfica took advantage of this right from the start. Rafa Silva’s goal exposed individual errors that can be attributed to various players: Álvaro Carreras was poorly positioned, Eduardo Camavinga failed to keep up with Vangelis Pavlidis, and Antonio Rüdiger appeared disinterested in his recovery. Injuries in defense cannot be used as an excuse, as even without the starters, the available players should not make basic mistakes that harm the team. Judgment errors have been a constant, and although Real Madrid escaped this time, stronger teams will certainly not forgive.

Kylian Mbappé’s Injury Is a Concern

The absence of top scorer Kylian Mbappé, who is recovering from a knee injury, was clearly felt. With Benfica playing more boldly, the Frenchman would have found plenty of space to exploit on the counterattack, using his speed to wreak havoc on the opposing defense. Mbappé’s absence not only limits Real Madrid’s offensive options but also raises questions about the squad’s depth and the ability to respond to adverse situations.

The victory over Benfica may have secured progression to the next stage of the competition, but the upcoming challenges require critical analysis and urgent improvement in various areas. With a forthcoming clash that could involve opponents such as Manchester City or Sporting CP, Real Madrid will need to work hard to rectify mistakes and solidify their position among Europe’s elite if they wish to dream of winning the coveted Champions League once again.