real madrid Hold Firm in Lisbon: Vinicius Goal, Racism Allegations and Mourinho Sent Off
Real Madrid produced a disciplined, tactically tight performance to take a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon. Vinicius Jr. 's strike decided the match, but the evening was overshadowed by a stoppage for alleged racist abuse and the dismissal of the opposing manager.
Match overview: control, structure and the decisive moments
From the opening exchanges Real Madrid set out to neutralize the threat that troubled them two weeks earlier. The visitors relied on patient possession and defensive organisation to stifle Benfica's early intent and turned control into a slender lead. Vinicius Jr. produced the decisive moment, finishing a move that gave Madrid the advantage and sent them back to the Spanish leg with momentum on their side.
The midfield proved the backbone of the victory. Tchouaméni delivered arguably his best performance in white, offering balance and intensity, while Camavinga complemented him with physicality and drive. Full-back combinations on the right between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Federico Valverde frequently tested Benfica’s flank, and the return of Antonio Rüdiger shored up a back line that had shown cracks in the group stage.
Benfica were a different proposition to the one that caused problems before. Players who had been incisive in the earlier meeting were subdued; the team never really found its cutting edge and Pavlidis was largely anonymous. Madrid’s approach kept their opponents uncomfortable, relegating them to sporadic bursts rather than sustained danger. The visitors avoided the turnovers that allowed Benfica to punish them previously and suffocated counterattacking opportunities.
Stoppage, accusations and reactions on the pitch
The match was interrupted when an alleged racist remark directed at Vinicius Jr. prompted the referee to halt play and initiate the anti-racism protocol. The Brazilian left the field and sat on the bench during the pause, visibly distressed. Teammates reacted strongly on the touchline and on the pitch, with Kylian Mbappé filmed confronting the opposing player and shouting, "You're a fucking racist!" as players gathered around the scene.
In the aftermath, Madrid personnel emphasised the need to set an example and condemned any form of discrimination. Tchouaméni later explained that team members had been informed by Vinicius about what had happened and that they felt compelled to respond. Vinicius himself called racists "cowards" and reiterated his determination to speak out when subjected to abuse. The stoppage lasted several minutes before play resumed, and the fixture continued to its conclusion without immediate further disciplinary action on the field.
Discipline off the ball and what the return leg could bring
Temperatures boiled over again when the opposing team's manager was shown a red card and dismissed from the touchline, adding another layer of controversy to an already charged night. Despite that, the on-field narrative remained Madrid’s composed performance and their ability to limit clear chances for the home side.
Real Madrid head into the second leg at the Bernabéu with a slender advantage but will know the tie is far from settled. The visitors can be pleased with the tactical improvements and defensive resilience, but the club will also be bracing for potential disciplinary developments off the pitch. The alleged racial abuse is likely to draw scrutiny and could have ramifications beyond the result: the governing body that oversees European competition will be expected to review the incident closely.
On the football front, the return leg promises to be tense. Madrid may choose to protect their lead with the same structured midfield and disciplined defensive work that served them in Lisbon, while the home side will seek to reclaim influence and exploit any vulnerabilities. With emotions still raw after the stoppage and the touchline confrontation, the Bernabéu promises a charged atmosphere for the decisive second leg.
