Real Madrid scrape through to last 16 but Benfica display raises serious questions

Real Madrid are through to the Champions League round of 16, but nobody’s exactly popping the champagne after that Benfica performance — it was more a case of relief than celebration.

A grey night at the office

Let’s be honest, Madrid were proper unconvincing. The first half in particular was a bit of a nightmare — Benfica found spaces, created danger, and genuinely had the upper hand for long stretches. The only reason it didn’t get more embarrassing was Thibaut Courtois, who was absolutely massive between the sticks. Without him, it could’ve been a very different story.

Madrid never really got a grip on the game. Even when the scoreline was in their favour, they couldn’t control the tempo or impose themselves. Benfica punished them every time they switched off, and that’s not a great sign heading into the knockouts.

Players running the show themselves?

One of the more eyebrow-raising bits from the post-match analysis was the suggestion that the players were essentially trying to sort out the tactical problems themselves, mid-game — impromptu huddles, constant conversations on the pitch, the lot. That raises a pretty obvious question about how much influence Álvaro Arbeloa actually has over this side.

It’s not a great look, is it. A manager’s supposed to be the one making those adjustments, not leaving it to the lads to figure it out between themselves on the grass.

The Modrić problem — or rather, his absence

The punditry crowd were quick to bring up the elephant in the room: there’s no one in this squad who can properly take the game by the scruff of the neck and run it. The kind of player who demands the ball, sets the tempo, organises everyone around him.

And yeah, the name that kept coming up was Luka Modrić — now in a much reduced role — with analysts pointing out that “at 40, he’d still be a starter at Real Madrid.” Whether you think that’s a compliment to Modrić or a damning indictment of the current squad, it’s a bit of both, really.

Too much Vini, not enough team

In attack, it was the same old story:

• Over-reliance on Vinícius Júnior for individual moments of magic
• Collective play was slow and disjointed — no real fluidity going forward
• Dangerous ball losses in build-up that could’ve been ruthlessly punished by a sharper side

Against better opposition in the last 16, that kind of sloppiness will get you done.

Asensio injury scare

On a more serious note, Raúl Asensio had to be taken to hospital after suffering a whiplash injury during the match. The good news is he was conscious and stable — but he’ll be kept under observation, so fingers crossed there.

The bigger picture

Madrid are through, and that’s something. But the manner of it is genuinely concerning. The next few weeks — and whoever they draw in the last 16 — will tell us a lot about whether this team can actually sort itself out, or whether the cracks run deeper than a single dodgy performance. Right now, it’s hard to feel too confident either way.