Real Madrid claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday.
The decisive moment came courtesy of a stunning strike from Vinicius Junior, though the encounter was marred by allegations of racist abuse directed at the Brazilian winger, prompting an 11-minute suspension shortly after his goal.
Both sides created chances in a lively first half that ended goalless. Madrid enjoyed spells of dominance, with Kylian Mbappé, Arda Güler and Vinicius testing goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Benfica responded through Gianluca Prestianni, Rafa Silva and Fredrik Aursnes, but Thibaut Courtois stood firm in goal.
The breakthrough arrived five minutes after the restart. Vinicius picked up possession on the left, skipped past Amar Dedic and curled a superb right-footed effort from the edge of the area into the top-right corner, leaving Trubin with no chance.
Moments later, the match was interrupted after Vinicius reported alleged racist remarks, reportedly during an exchange near the corner flag involving Prestianni. Referee François Letexier activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, crossing his arms to signal the procedure as play was halted for approximately 10 to 11 minutes amid reports of discriminatory chants from sections of the home crowd.
When play resumed, tensions remained high. Head coach Jose Mourinho was shown two quick yellow cards — one while off the pitch — resulting in his dismissal from the technical area. Vinicius was booked for his goal celebration, while Mbappé also entered the referee’s notebook.
Late substitutions, including Brahim Diaz for Güler and Thiago Pitarch for Eduardo Camavinga, helped Madrid see out 12 minutes of added time. Benfica pressed for an equaliser through Sidny Lopes Cabral and others, but Madrid’s defence held firm.
The final whistle sealed a narrow first-leg advantage for the Spanish giants ahead of the return fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Post A Comment: