Lisbon, Portugal – Real Madrid defeated Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on Tuesday night, but the match was overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse directed at Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian scored a stunning goal in the 50th minute, but the victory was marred by a ten-minute suspension of play after an incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
The game remained scoreless through a tense first half, with Benfica’s defense proving resilient against the attacks of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappé, and Arda Güler. Real Madrid’s breakthrough came shortly after the restart when Vinicius Jr. Received a pass from Mbappé and unleashed a powerful, curling shot from the left side of the box that beat Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
The celebration sparked controversy. Vinicius Jr. Was shown a yellow card for dancing near the corner flag, a practice that has previously drawn criticism. Immediately following the card, Prestianni approached Vinicius Jr. And appeared to say something to him while covering his mouth with his shirt. Vinicius Jr. Reacted with visible anger, prompting a confrontation with the referee, François Letexier.
The match was then halted for ten minutes as Letexier initiated UEFA’s three-step anti-racism protocol. Real Madrid players, including captain Federico Valverde, surrounded the referee to protest the incident. Benfica manager José Mourinho was also seen attempting to de-escalate the situation, speaking with Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.
According to reports, Vinicius Jr. Informed Letexier that Prestianni had used a racial slur during the exchange. While the specific comment remains unconfirmed, the incident prompted a strong response from Real Madrid players and officials. Play resumed after the delay, but the atmosphere at the Estádio da Luz remained charged.
Following the match, Valverde expressed his frustration over the lack of clear evidence of the alleged slur. “It is unbelievable that, with dozens of cameras in the stadium, that none could have caught [Prestianni’s] racial slur, but if you cover your mouth to say something, that says a lot,” he told Movistar Plus. He added his pride in Vinicius Jr.’s continued fight against racism in football.
Real Madrid’s victory was built on a solid defensive performance, led by Thibaut Courtois, who made a crucial save in the first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold was a constant threat down the right flank, while Dean Huijsen impressed alongside Antonio Rüdiger in central defense. Aurélien Tchouaméni was dominant in midfield, breaking up Benfica’s attacks.
The statistics reflected Real Madrid’s control of the game, despite the narrow scoreline. They held 58% of the possession and recorded 16 shots, seven of which were on target. Benfica, meanwhile, managed only 10 shots, with three on target, and a lower expected goals (xG) value of 0.41 compared to Real Madrid’s 1.11.
The second leg of the tie will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu next week, where Real Madrid will gaze to secure their place in the Champions League round of 16. However, the focus remains on the alleged incident of racism and the ongoing efforts to combat discrimination in football. UEFA has not yet released a statement regarding the incident or any potential disciplinary action.
