Real Madrid drew closer to advancing to the Champions League last 16 after Vinicius Junior’s spectacular goal secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg against Benfica on Tuesday night.
The match at Estadio da Luz was marred by an alleged incident of racism, which caused a 10-minute delay and involved Vinicius in an altercation immediately after his winning goal.
Advertisement
The pre-match atmosphere was already tense, amplified by the presence of Benfica manager Jose Mourinho facing his former club, a matchup that had previously stirred drama during the league phase.
On the field, the first half was energetic yet scoreless, with Kylian Mbappe testing goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin with a powerful shot and Arda Guler forcing another impressive save from him soon after.
Benfica posed their own threats, prompting Thibaut Courtois to make crucial saves, including a dangerous header from Tomas Araujo and an excellent stop against Fredrik Aursnes.
Madrid pressed hard toward the end of the half, creating several opportunities, with Mbappe coming close twice in quick succession and Vinicius sending a shot wide.
Advertisement
The breakthrough came just four minutes into the second half. Vinicius received the ball on the left, cut inside, and expertly curled a right-footed shot into the top corner, leaving Trubin with no chance.
Following his goal, Vinicius was cautioned for celebrating in front of the home fans and then reportedly reported racist abuse to referee Francois Letexier during a heated exchange with Benfica players.
Letexier halted the match, indicating that the anti-racism protocol had been activated, as both managers and staff members entered the pitch amid rising tensions.
Play eventually resumed with Vinicius still on the field, but the atmosphere had changed significantly, becoming much more hostile in the closing minutes.
Advertisement
Benfica found it difficult to create clear opportunities, while Madrid efficiently defended their lead and posed a threat on the counterattack.
The match concluded with further disarray, as objects were reportedly thrown from the stands towards the visiting players, and Mourinho received a red card for protesting late in the game.
Madrid heads back to Santiago Bernabeu with a slim but important advantage for the second leg next week, while Benfica must find a way to respond on the pitch and focus on football rather than the unfortunate incidents that overshadowed their initial encounter.