Real Madrid win on an ugly evening in Benfica

Vinicius Junior scored a sublime second-half winner as Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in their Champions League ⁠play-off first leg, on a night overshadowed by the Brazilian accusing Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him.

The alleged incident occurred moments after Vinicius had curled Real ahead five minutes into the second half at the Estadio da Luz, before referee Francois Letexier halted the match for 11 minutes under FIFA's anti-racism protocol.

Television pictures showed the Argentinian winger covering his mouth with his shirt before making a comment that Vinicius and nearby team-mates interpreted as a racial slur against the 25-year-old, who has repeatedly suffered racism in Spain during matches.

"It is unbelievable that, with dozens of cameras in the stadium that none could have caught (Prestianni's) racial slur, but if you cover your ‌mouth to say something, that says a ⁠lot..." Real captain Federico Valverde told Movistar Plus.

"According to my team-mates who were close, they heard something very ugly. Many people have been fighting against racism in football, Vinicius is one of them. I’m proud of him and his great game."

Benfica began on the front foot but the visitors gradually assumed control while the hosts appeared content to counter-attack, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing a stunning one-handed save to keep out a 25th-minute ‌strike from Fredrik Aursnes.

Real finished the first half strongly and only goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin's brilliance kept the score goalless at the break, as he produced stunning saves to deny Kylian Mbappe and ⁠Arda Guler.

The breakthrough came five minutes after the restart. Mbappe burst forward and fed Vinicius on the left. The Brazilian ‌cut diagonally towards the box, shifted inside and unleashed an unstoppable curling shot into the far top ⁠corner.

Vinicius celebrated by ‌dancing with the corner flag and was booked by Letexier for excessive celebration.

As the forward argued with the referee, he became involved in a heated exchange with Prestianni, with Vinicius and several team-mates suddenly running towards the referee.

Letexier crossed his arms in front of his face to activate FIFA's protocol and stopped ⁠the match. Real's players threatened to leave the pitch as tensions flared before play eventually resumed 11 minutes later.

The atmosphere turned hostile, with ⁠Vinicius loudly booed whenever he touched the ball and the broadcast camera appeared to show an outraged Mbappe calling Prestianni "a bloody racist" to his face several times after the game resumed.

Tempers flared again in the 85th minute when Vinicius fouled Richard Rios. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho stormed towards the fourth official demanding a second booking for the Brazilian but was himself cautioned for his protests.

An incensed Mourinho continued remonstrating and was promptly shown a second yellow card.

Vinicius was then targeted by the Benfica crowd with bottles, plastic cups and at one point a vape being thrown at the Madrid winger.

Benfica pushed late on but managed only three shots ‌on target as Real secured a slender advantage to take back to Madrid for the return leg, a game which will be shown live on RTÉ 2.

Click here to read article