Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa appeared in a press statement following the 2-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of the playoff qualifying for the UEFA Champions League round of 16, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The first leg ended with Real Madrid winning 1-0.

The coach said in his statement: "Asensio's injury? It seems to be a neck injury and doesn't appear to be serious. He was taken to the hospital, and we hope it's just a shock. The collision was strong and worried us, but the signs are reassuring."

He added about the team's struggles in the first half, explaining: "There is no easy match in this tournament; it is the strongest in Europe. They pressed us and made it difficult to play the ball out, and there were spaces behind their defense that we didn't exploit. After the break, we corrected some things and our performance gradually improved."

Regarding Tchouaméni's goal: "It was a very important goal. We've talked to him a lot in recent days, and he's performing excellently. If he continues to move forward, he'll score more, and I hope this is the first of many goals."

Regarding Vinicius and his leadership role: "He played a great match, was decisive, made a difference, and scored goals. We need him as a leader and a reference for the team, especially in the absence of Kylian Mbappe. He proved that he can make a difference at any moment."

Regarding whether he met José Mourinho: "I wasn't able to see him."

He concluded about the round of 16 draw: "Any opponent will be tough. We have two possibilities (Man City or Sporting), and there is no preference for either. We will be ready for whoever comes."