In a night packed with drama and controversy, Real Madrid took a 1-0 win against CL Benfica in Lisbon during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Play-Off round 1. The winning goal came from the Brazilian star Vinicius Junior early in the second half. But the match was overshadowed by a serious dispute over alleged racist abuse, leading to a long stoppage and heated arguments on the pitch.
The game was played on the home ground of SL Benfica, Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, on February 17, 2026. Both teams played aggressive early games, as SL Benfica was supported by their home fans while Real Madrid kept the game balanced and controlled.
Vinicius Junior’s Stunning Goal
Just five minutes into the second half, Real Madrid took the lead in the game. The Brazilian forward put the visitors ahead in the 50th minute with a magnificent curler shot that passed Anatoliy Trubin at the Estadio da Luz. Vinicius Junior was given a yellow card for an excessive celebration after the goal. Moreover, Vinicius delivered a top-class finish that gave Madrid the lead.
This goal was a reminder of Vinicius’s movement, balance, class, and composure with the ball. The match was separated by only one goal and gave Real Madrid an advantage ahead of their game 2 on February 26 at the Estadio Bernabeu in Madrid. Furthermore, Real Madrid leads the playoffs with 1-0 on aggregate against SL Benfica.
Also read: Real Madrid Go Top of La Liga After Dominant 4-1 Win
Match Facts:
| Statistics | SL Benfica | Real Madrid |
| Goals | 0 | 1 |
| Shots (on target) | 9 (3) | 15 (8) |
| Possession | 44% | 56% |
| Fouls | 6 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Corners | 3 | 6 |
Racial Allegations Hold the Game
After Vinicius’s celebration, which included dancing by the corner flag, the celebration was met with aggressive reactions from some Benfica players. The reaction broke the line when Benfica’s winger Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt and started exchanging words with Vinicius Junior. According to Real Madrid players, what Prestianni said was a racial epithet, allegedly calling the Brazilian a “monkey.”
Vinicius ran over to referee Francois Letexier, who confirmed the activation of the UEFA anti-racism protocols by making a cross-armed gesture. Play was stopped for 10-11 minutes as officials, team captains, and coaching staff discussed the situation. Vinicius left the pitch, and his teammates followed him.
The atmosphere in the stadium grew loud and aggressive as fans booed every time Vinicius Junior touched the ball after the match finally resumed.
Post-Match Reactions and Controversy
After the final whistle, players and managers got into an incident. Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa faulted the behavior and emphasised that racism has no place in football. While SL Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was given two yellow cards in the game as he defended Vinicius’s celebrations, he stopped short of backing the racism claim. Mourinho will be missing from the sideline in the next leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
While Prestianni denied using racist language and claimed that the Brazilian had misheard him. On the other hand, Vinicius Junior said that “racists are, above all, cowards” and criticized how the alleged abuse affected the match.
Starting XI of Real Madrid and SL Benfica
Real Madrid:
- Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
- Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras
- Midfielders: Federico Valverde, Arda Güler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga
- Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe
SL Benfica:
- Goalkeeper: Anatoliy Trubin
- Defenders: Amar Dedic, Tomas Araujo, Nicholas Otamendi, Samuel Dahl
- Midfielders: Gianluca Prestianni, Fredrik Aursnes, Leandro Barreiro, Rafa Silva, Andreas Schjelderup
- Forward: Vangelis Pavlidis
What this Result Means
Real Madrid will now head to Santiago Bernabeu with a narrow lead of 1-0 into the second leg against SL Benfica. This advantage will keep them in a controlled, calm game and help them reach the Champions League Round of 16, but the game is not over yet.
For Benfica, a one-goal deficit means they must score in Madrid to keep their hopes alive in the Champions League. And, without the manager on the sideline, Benfica will have a serious disadvantage and lack of coaching in the game. However, the controversy surrounding this game may be remembered longer than the scoreline itself.
Racism Reminder in Football
Despite many years of efforts from footballing associations like UEFA, incidents of racism keep on continuing to stop the games and hurt players’ feelings. Vinicius Junior, one of the best young talents in football, has been targeted once more with many controversies before. This action in the UEFA match puts further pressure on the need for stricter rules in the game.
At last, this match once again highlighted the racism in football, and fans around the world have reacted passionately, with many calling for improved anti-racism laws in the sport.
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