Benfica 0–1 Real Madrid: Vinicius winner, stoppage after incident involving prestianni
Real Madrid left Lisbon with a slender 1-0 advantage after Vinicius Junior produced a world-class curling strike, but the result was overshadowed when the second-half tie was stopped for about 10 minutes after Vinicius reported an alleged racial insult by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni. The returning leg is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 3: 00 PM ET at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Vinicius' brilliance decides a cagey first leg
Both sides traded early moments with Real creating the clearer chances. Trent Alexander-Arnold played a defence-splitting pass to Federico Valverde that nearly opened the scoring, and Vinicius narrowly missed before the breakthrough. The decisive moment arrived in the 50th minute when Vinicius unleashed a magnificent curling strike past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin at the Estadio da Luz.
Real pressed throughout the match. Kylian Mbappé came close on several occasions, his best opportunity coming after a Vinicius back-heel tee-up, while Thibaut Courtois was required to produce key saves, notably to deny a stinging effort from Fredrik Aursnes. Benfica had moments as well, but posed less threat after the second-half goal as Real looked to control the game on the road.
Match halted after heated exchange and alleged racial abuse
Tensions flared immediately after the goal. Vinicius was booked for an exuberant celebration near the corner flag, and a heated exchange followed between him and Prestianni. Vinicius ran to the referee to indicate he had been targeted and then left the pitch, followed by his team-mates, as the official made the anti-racism crossed-arms gesture. Play was stopped for roughly 10 minutes before action resumed in the 60th minute.
The stoppage extended the game significantly: 12 minutes of added time were played at the end of the match, during which an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius on the arm as he prepared to take a corner. Emotions remained raw; Benfica manager José Mourinho was shown two yellow cards late on and will be suspended from the touchline for the return leg.
Consequences, reactions and what to expect in Madrid
Real Madrid framed the incident as serious and insisted that the matter required attention. Vinicius publicly condemned the alleged abuse and questioned both the decision to caution him for celebrating and the effectiveness of the protocol that was followed on the night. Benfica players defended their teammate, with some suggesting the confrontation stemmed from on-field provocation and rivalry rather than discriminatory language.
With the tie very much alive, the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu becomes pivotal. Real travel with a slim advantage but will also carry the psychological weight of the stoppage and the late crowd incident. Benfica will be motivated to overturn the deficit on home soil for Madrid and to challenge any disciplinary fallout related to the alleged abuse. Tactical adjustments are likely from both camps: Benfica will seek more penetration without conceding the wide channels that allowed Alexander-Arnold and Vinicius to threaten, while Real may look to manage tempo and protect their lead while capitalising on counter opportunities.
Wednesday's kick-off at 3: 00 PM ET will attract intense attention, not just for the football stakes but for how the governing bodies and clubs address the disciplinary and safeguarding questions raised in Lisbon. The sporting contest between these two heavyweight clubs remains tightly poised, but the wider issues that interrupted the match will dominate the conversation until they are fully resolved.
