Champions League drama
Juventus misses the miracle, Real celebrates thanks to Vinícius
Updated February 26, 2026 – 8:56 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
The Champions League offered the best entertainment on Wednesday evening. Things were particularly dramatic in Turin.
After Borussia Dortmund were eliminated, the last three games of the intermediate round of the Champions League took place on Wednesday evening. The game was most clear-cut in Madrid, where Real won 2-1 (1-1) against Benfica Lisbon. The Royals already won the first leg 1-0 and are now in the round of 16.
PSG also achieved this. The defending champions drew 2-2 (0-1) from AS Monaco in front of their home crowd. The draw was enough for the capital club because they had won the first leg 3-2 a week ago.
Meanwhile, the game in Turin was dramatic. Juventus, outnumbered from the 49th minute onwards, forced extra time against Galatasaray thanks to a 3-0 (1-0) win after 90 minutes. The Turks won the first leg 5-2. The club from Istanbul scored twice in extra time and ultimately made it to the round of 16 despite a 2-3 defeat.
For Real, who played without the injured Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouameni (16th) equalized after Rafa Silva had previously boosted Benfica’s hopes (14th). Viní Jr. then set the course for Real (80th) – and after his goal he danced at the corner flag like he had done a week before. The Portuguese had to make do without their suspended coach José Mourinho. And Gianluca Prestianni was also missing after the events of the previous week, which had also dominated the headlines before the reunion.
The first leg (0:1) was marked by scandal. Prestianni is said to have insulted Real star Vinícius after his goal, and he was then “provisionally” banned by UEFA. The ensuing protest was unsuccessful, and Lisbon played bravely at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu even without the Argentine.
Monaco didn’t hide at all after the 2:3 defeat in the first leg against PSG. Maghnes Akliouche took the lead shortly before the half-time whistle (45th), giving the guests hope of a big surprise.
In the second half there was a double setback: Marquinhos equalized immediately after a yellow-red card for AS midfielder Mamadou Coulibaly (60th). Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (66th) finally put defending champions Paris on track. Jordan Teze only briefly made things exciting again when he was outnumbered (90+1).
