prestianni exchange halts Benfica v Real Madrid as Vinicius winner decides first leg
Real Madrid edged Benfica 1-0 in a match overshadowed by an alleged racial slur involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and a pause of roughly 10 minutes after the winning goal. Vinicius Junior's stunning curling strike in the 50th minute proved decisive, but the breakthrough was followed by a confrontation that prompted the referee to invoke the anti-racism protocol and temporarily suspend play.
Match events and the stoppage
The second half looked set to be a tight tactical battle until Vinicius produced a world-class effort in the 50th minute, curling a shot past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin at the Estadio da Luz. He was booked for an excessive celebration after dancing near the corner flag, and an on-pitch exchange with Gianluca Prestianni then escalated. Vinicius ran to the referee, gesturing toward the Argentina-born winger, and the official made the crossed-arms signal that triggers the competition's anti-racism procedure.
Following that intervention, Vinicius and his team-mates left the field and play was halted for about 10 to 11 minutes before the match resumed in the 60th minute. The stoppage extended the overall game time, and there were 12 minutes of added time at the end. During stoppage, an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius on the arm as he prepared to take a corner.
Key moments, consequences and what comes next
Aside from the controversy, the match contained several notable moments: Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made important saves, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius both pushed Benfica defenders, and Trent Alexander-Arnold supplied incisive passing throughout. Benfica's goalkeeper had been the unlikely hero just 19 days earlier when he scored a late header to secure their place, a dramatic subplot to this tie.
Benfica manager José Mourinho was shown two yellow cards late in the game and will be absent from the touchline for the return leg. That second match is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 3: 00 PM ET at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Benfica will try to overturn the deficit and Real Madrid will look to protect their away advantage.
Wider implications and reactions
The allegation of racist abuse immediately shifted focus from the football to the wider issue of discrimination in the sport. Vinicius described the incident as part of a long history he has experienced, condemning racism as cowardly and questioning elements of how the protocol was applied in this instance. Benfica players offered differing reactions, with some defending their team-mate and others stressing the heated rivalry on the pitch. The stoppage and subsequent fallout are likely to dominate headlines and discussions in the lead-up to the second leg.
With a slender 1-0 scoreline, the tie remains finely poised. Both clubs must now manage the sporting implications alongside the disciplinary and reputational consequences stemming from the incident at the Estadio da Luz.
