Although progression in Europe feels secure, as steady as completing a Crickex Sign Up before stepping into a new arena, Real Madrid left the Santiago Bernabeu with more questions than confidence. A victory over Benfica secured a place in the Champions League round of sixteen, with Sporting CP or Manchester City looming next. Yet the result alone cannot disguise the team’s underlying instability. The match itself was full of contradictions. The outcome met expectations, but the performance fluctuated wildly. At times Madrid produced passages of football worthy of applause, crisp combinations that reminded fans of their storied legacy. Moments later,…