02/25/26 04:12:00
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02/25 16:11 CST Vinicius helps Real Madrid advance in Champions League, PSG and
Atalanta also through
Vinicius helps Real Madrid advance in Champions League, PSG and Atalanta also
through
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
With the winning goal and another corner-flag dance, Vincius Jnior fittingly
had the final say in an emotionally charged rematch with Benfica to guide Real
Madrid into the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain also advanced out of the playoffs, while
Atalanta completed a remarkable comeback with a last-second goal to maintain
Italian involvement in the competition.
Playing a week after being the target of alleged racial abuse in the first leg
against Benfica, Vincius wrapped up Madrid's 2-1 win over the Portuguese team
--- and a 3-1 victory on aggregate --- with his team's second goal in the 80th
minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Brazil star celebrated his goal like he did last week, by dancing beside
the corner flag.
Benfica opened the scoring in the 14th minute through Rafa Silva to briefly
bring the score level at 1-1 on aggregate, only for Aurelien Tchouameni to
equalize two minutes later.
PSG, which won the Champions League for the first time last season, also fell
behind to Monaco but recovered to draw 2-2 and advance 5-4 on aggregate.
Atalanta substitute Lazar Samardzic converted a penalty with the last kick of
the game against Borussia Dortmund in the eighth minute of stoppage time
following a video review to seal a 4-1 win on the night and a 4-3 victory on
aggregate.
Juventus was attempting an even bigger fightback. Trailing 5-2 from the first
leg, Juve was 3-0 ahead at the end of regulation time to take the game to extra
time.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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