- Real Madrid defeated Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.
- Vinicius Junior scored a stunning goal in the second half, but the match was then marred by a potential incident of racism.
- Here’s a roundup of other playoff first-leg matches on Tuesday.
A moment of brilliance from Vinicius Junior was overshadowed by troubling events as Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Benfica in Lisbon. The Brazilian forward broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, igniting a sequence of events that led to a 10-minute stoppage and accusations of racial abuse.
Vinicius Accuses Prestianni
The goal, a beautiful curling strike past Anatoliy Trubin after a dazzling run and assist from Kylian Mbappé, sent the Real Madrid faithful into celebration. Vinicius’s exuberant celebration near the corner flag, still, drew the ire of referee François Letexier, who issued a yellow card for unsporting behavior.
The situation quickly escalated as players from both sides confronted each other. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni allegedly directed racist remarks toward Vinicius during the ensuing altercation. Vinicius immediately approached Letexier to report the incident, prompting the referee to suspend play as the player refused to continue.
Mourinho Sees Red
After a delay of approximately 10 minutes, play resumed with both Vinicius and Prestianni remaining on the pitch. Despite the disruption, the match remained largely uneventful from a sporting perspective. However, tensions remained high, culminating in a red card for Benfica manager José Mourinho in the 85th minute for vehemently protesting a potential yellow card for Vinicius. Mourinho will be absent from the touchline for next Wednesday’s return leg in Madrid.
Real Madrid carries a 1-0 advantage into the second leg, but the match will be remembered for the serious allegations of racism. The incident is sure to draw scrutiny and likely lead to further investigation.
Result
