3000 Benfica fans silenced by Vinicius

3,000 Benfica supporters unleashed relentless jeers, but Vinícius responded with a decisive moment, turning the pressure into a victory for Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Even before kickoff at the Bernabéu, the atmosphere was tense as Vinícius Junior became the center of attention. The aftermath of the first leg meant the Brazilian forward faced fierce reactions from Benfica fans, especially the group of over 3,000 away supporters present in the stands to apply psychological pressure.

According to ESPN, every time Vinícius touched the ball, loud jeers echoed throughout the stadium. Benfica fans even cheered when he made mistakes early in the match and reacted strongly as soon as his name was announced in the starting lineup. The hostile environment made the game notably more intense than a typical encounter.

The pressure intensified when Benfica unexpectedly scored early through Rafa Silva, leveling the aggregate score. However, Real Madrid quickly answered just two minutes later with a goal from Aurélien Tchouaméni, helping the home team regain control and somewhat ease the pressure on the pitch.

Nevertheless, the jeers continued to follow Vinícius for most of the match. The Brazilian striker was constantly targeted whenever he accelerated or held the ball. Yet, as the game progressed toward the end, the dissenting sounds began to fade as Real Madrid gained better control and Vinícius played with increasing confidence and effectiveness.

The decisive moment came in the 80th minute. Vinícius sprinted forward and neatly finished to make it 2-1. The jeers from Benfica fans were immediately drowned out by the Bernabéu crowd’s excitement, where Real Madrid supporters rose to celebrate their hero. From being the target of hostility, Vinícius became the match-winner.

That goal not only helped Real Madrid secure a 3-1 aggregate win after two legs to advance to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, but also closed a night full of emotions. From being under scrutiny and pressure, Vinícius transformed the jeers into motivation and left the field as the hero who decided the outcome.