The Race Is Run

There were many juicy Champions League matches to choose from; but I chose the Real Madrid v Benfica one. Why? It was simply the hottest ticket in town; everyone was talking about it; and not just for football terms of course.

Real were already leading 1-0 from the first leg coming back to the Bernabeu. But you could never count this Jose Mourinho-led Benfica team out. As if to a tee; they even took the lead on this warm; tense night in Madrid. Veteran Rafa Silva; retired from the international game but very much still on the club scene; is regarded as something of a hero in his second stint at Benfica; and who else but him to prod home on the second attempt after a near-own goal from Marcos Asencio.

Just when the nerves were coming in though; up stepped Aurelien Tchouameni; who steered home brilliantly from Federico Valverde's cut-back to calm the Madrid nerves and put the match back on Real's terms. And it got better for them; when who else but Vinicius Jr latched on to another through-ball from Valverde; and passed brilliantly into the side netting after racing clear.

Real progress to the next round; where a mouth-watering clash with Manchester City awaits.