Racism Allegation
Real Madrid advance past Benfica in Champions League playoff
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Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of their Champions League knockout playoff, advancing 3-1 on aggregate. Vinicius Jr scored the decisive goal amid ongoing controversy from the first leg. The match at Santiago Bernabeu highlighted resilience from both sides despite absences and tensions.
Gianluca Prestianni, provisionally suspended by UEFA for an alleged racial slur against Vinicius Jr, has joined the Benfica squad in Madrid for the Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid. The Argentine denies any wrongdoing, and Benfica officials have voiced strong support for his innocence. Tensions remain high following the first leg, where Vinicius scored the winner amid the controversy.
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Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on February 18, 2026, but the match was overshadowed by an alleged racist slur directed at Vinicius Jr. by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. The game halted for about eight minutes after Vinicius reported the incident to referee François Letexier, who activated the anti-racism protocol. UEFA has launched an investigation into the matter.