Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, thanks to a goal from Vinicius Junior. The match was overshadowed by claims of a racist slur directed at the Brazilian forward, leading to a 10-minute stoppage. UEFA has launched an investigation into the incident involving Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni.
The Champions League playoff first leg took place at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, where Real Madrid claimed a narrow 1-0 win against Benfica. Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal in the first half, curling a shot into the top corner before celebrating by the corner flag. Shortly after, the game paused for 10 minutes when Vinicius reported a racist comment to referee Francois Letexier, pointing toward Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. The official activated UEFA's anti-racism protocol, crossing his arms to signal the halt.
Prestianni, who had approached Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey, denies the allegations. One source reports he allegedly called Vinicius a 'monkey.' Benfica has backed the 20-year-old Argentine, describing the claims as a 'smear campaign.' During the stoppage, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho, who was later sent off, spoke with both players. In his post-match comments, Mourinho said, 'They told me different things,' and noted, 'There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium... Always.' He also suggested Vinicius should 'just celebrate and walk back' after scoring, drawing criticism for implying provocation.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa defended Vinicius, stating, 'Nothing Vini has done on a football pitch justifies a racist act.' He emphasized the team's support, saying the squad would have left the pitch if Vinicius chose to. Bayern Munich's Vincent Kompany criticized Mourinho's response as a 'huge mistake in terms of leadership,' adding that Vinicius's emotional reaction 'cannot be faked.' Kompany also dismissed Mourinho's reference to Benfica's history with Eusebio, questioning the challenges black players faced in the 1960s.
UEFA opened a fast-track investigation into Prestianni, with a potential 10-match suspension if guilty, relying on testimonies from Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe amid no confirmed audio. Benfica identified two fans for making monkey gestures toward Vinicius and is cooperating with UEFA. Separately, Benfica filed a complaint against Real Madrid's Federico Valverde for allegedly slapping Samuel Dahn in the 83rd minute, claiming he should have been sent off. Prestianni will miss Benfica's next league game due to a suspension. The second leg is set for next week.
