Real Madrid: Vinicius dances samba against all odds

In the game where Jose Mourinho and Kylian Mbappe were missing for various reasons, Vinicius emerged as the key figure, netting the winning goal to secure Real Madrid's 2-1 win against Benfica.

In both legs, Vinicius scored spectacular goals that created the biggest turning points between Real Madrid and Benfica. He performed the samba dance even though he wasn't the best player on the pitch. All of this demonstrates that Vini knows how to break the mold and is a star capable of altering the Champions League script.

The Value of Vinicius

Vinicius fights with everything and against everything. Against opponents. Against racism. Against his own team's inconsistency. Even against himself. Too many challenges, but they are thrilling challenges—in his goals, in his reactions, and in his little dance by the corner flag (not forgetting to advertise his sponsor's underwear), as if dancing with a Brazilian girl.

That is the original Vinicius that Benfica experienced: two world-class goals in 180 minutes, one at Da Luz and one at the Bernabeu, along with fury over an alleged insult, provocative stares, and the samba dance. The Champions League already knows who he is, having scored in the last two finals that Real Madrid won, both under Carlo Ancelotti.

The Brazilian player possesses a mix of pride and self-esteem, and in this regard, he has someone to emulate. In football, this is not uncommon. Ask Jose Mourinho. "The Special One," in victory or defeat, knows how to play the disappearing act, while Prestianni "did not play" to let his teammates take over, following a suspension that seemed like a tacit agreement between Benfica and UEFA. Once the tense atmosphere had eased, it was time to play football, and in that aspect, Real Madrid is facing problems. This is nothing new.

Difficulties in building play have become a systemic issue, extending from the final nights under Ancelotti, through the brief era of Xabi Alonso, to the interim period of Alvaro Arbeloa.

Mourinho understands this too, an expert at making opponents look bad. At the Bernabeu, he increased the pressure (though he himself sat in the team bus instead of the Bernabeu cabin), exacerbating Real Madrid's issues in building from the back, while organizing a deep and tight defensive block. In such circumstances, and with Kylian Mbappe absent due to injury, turning to Vinicius became even more urgent.

Vini took on that role, but on the wing he faced Benfica at their strongest. Dedic greatly limited Vinicius's opportunities at Da Luz, though he couldn't prevent his explosive goal in the first leg. At the Bernabeu, the Bosnian defender remained a tough challenge, though not always able to stop Vini, who became a killer in the decisive moment and a constant threat during the Portuguese side's attacking surges.

Dedic is very resilient and a name to watch. But he is not Benfica's only weapon: center-back Araujo, the powerful midfielder Richard Rios, the dynamic Barreiros, the quick Rafa Silva and Schjelderup, and Pavlidis, who excels at exploiting space between the two center-backs and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The English player stands out in set-piece situations, but the area behind him is not impenetrable.

Benfica's squad is far inferior to Real Madrid's in terms of individual quality, but the sense of balance they created stemmed from Mourinho, Arbeloa's mentor, and from Real Madrid's lack of a stable leader. From Arbeloa, it's hard to demand more. At the very least, despite having to go through the playoffs, he guided the team to the round of 16.

The Dance Against All Odds

Benfica took the lead thanks to a better start against a confused Real Madrid. Perhaps a more tense atmosphere would have given the home team an extra adrenaline boost. Pavlidis found space on the right flank, his cross was blocked by Raul Asencio but inadvertently turned into a dangerous shot towards his own goal. Courtois reacted to this "friendly fire" as he did later to Rios's powerful and tricky shot. However, the rebound fell perfectly to Rafa Silva, who did the inevitable in two touches.

When the aggregate score was leveled, the doubts Real Madrid brought from Pamplona, where they lost to Osasuna and ceded the top spot in La Liga to Barcelona, combined with an opponent unafraid at the Bernabeu, made the situation dangerous. Tchouameni's goal after two minutes was like a shot in the arm. Benfica's only mistake up to that point allowed Real Madrid to attack a more crowded penalty area. Valverde advanced near the byline and Tchouameni deliberately checked his run. The Uruguayan's pass found him in the perfect position. A precise, clean finish.

Scoring is not unfamiliar to the French player, but his current deep-lying role keeps him away from the dangerous areas in front of goal. Nevertheless, he remains one of the most reliable performers this season. In the last two matches alone, he has been outstanding. Valverde as well; his dribbling runs do not depend on the team's overall stability. Both assists belonged to him.

The equalizer helped Madrid calm down and control more of the ball, but a shoulder touch from Gonzalo Garcia prevented them from taking the lead after Arda Guler put the ball in the net during a chaotic situation stemming from Vinicius's skillful flick. That pattern continued after halftime, though Benfica surged strongly and made almost no substitutions until the end, increasing the pressure. Until a tackle opened the chance for Valverde to find Vinicius in space. He accelerated and finished accurately, bringing relief to the Bernabeu before heading towards the corner flag, just like in Lisbon last week.

Vini's samba dance is not for anyone in particular. It is a samba danced against all odds.