Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory in the first leg of their Champions League playoff match, though the game was marred by controversy. The match at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal saw a 10-minute suspension after Vinícius Júnior raised concerns about alleged discriminatory behavior.
The Spanish giants defeated Benfica 1-0 on February 18th in the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League playoff opening match. Despite Real’s superior squad quality—they finished 9th in the league phase while Benfica barely scraped into 24th place—the Portuguese side put up fierce resistance.
Benfica’s defensive line repeatedly thwarted attacks from world-class forwards like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior throughout the first half. Real dominated possession and created chances but struggled with their finishing touch, leading to a goalless opening 45 minutes.
The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half. Vinícius drove down the left flank and, from a tight angle near the box corner, unleashed a precise shot that curved into the far post. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who had made several crucial saves earlier, couldn’t reach the ball’s trajectory.
Controversy erupted immediately after the goal. Vinícius ran toward the corner flag and performed a celebration that appeared to provoke the home supporters, earning him a yellow card. Moments later, he approached the referee claiming that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni had made racist remarks toward him.
The official responded by making an ‘X‘ gesture with both arms, triggering FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol and halting play. After approximately 10 minutes, the match resumed, but tension remained high. Home fans jeered Vinícius whenever he touched the ball, though the Brazilian continued playing without reaction.
Additional drama unfolded when Benfica manager José Mourinho—a former Real Madrid coach—received a red card in the 85th minute. He was sent off after vehemently protesting a foul called against his player, with Vinícius being the player who committed the infraction.
Real Madrid held on for the 1-0 win, taking a crucial advantage into the second leg. However, confusion persists as officials have not yet confirmed whether Prestianni actually made discriminatory comments, leaving the racism allegations unresolved.