real madrid hold firm in Lisbon as Vinicius goal and racism probe mar Benfica tie
Real Madrid delivered a disciplined, tactically tight display in Lisbon to win 1-0, a victory built on midfield control and the finishing touch of Vinicius Junior. The match will be remembered as much for an alleged racist insult that halted play and for Jose Mourinho’s dismissal as for the single decisive goal that gives Madrid the advantage heading to the return leg.
Match control and tactical maturity
From the outset Madrid chose containment and possession over the open, high-octane approach seen in the group stage meeting. The visitors managed the early Benfica surge, neutralising the home side’s initial intent and then increasing territorial pressure. The game’s opening goal came from the Brazilian attacker Vinicius, whose movement and finishing provided the decisive edge.
Central midfield was the game’s backbone. One midfielder produced what many considered his best display in white, while his partner matched that work rate and defensive balance, leaving Madrid safely structured in both transition and defence. Full-back combinations on the right showed a renewed chemistry that repeatedly threatened the Benfica back line, and the return of a key centre-back strengthened the defensive spine.
Madrid’s strategy focused on long possession to suffocate Benfica’s tempo rather than quick vertical breaks. The approach limited clear chances for the host side and avoided the turnovers that had punished Madrid two weeks earlier. Moments of real menace came on the right flank, where a combination of patient passing and incisive runs delivered the opening goal and kept Benfica pinned deep for long spells.
Racism allegation, stoppage and emotions on the pitch
The match took an ugly turn after the opener when Vinicius alleged he had been the target of a racist slur by an opposing youngster. The referee activated the anti-racism protocol and play was halted for roughly ten minutes (ET) as officials and players confronted the situation. Vinicius briefly sat on the bench and refused to re-enter until the stoppage concluded, a gesture that underlined the seriousness of the moment.
Tempers flared on the field. A visiting teammate confronted the player accused of the insult, repeatedly labelling his behaviour racist from close quarters, and several Madrid players engaged in the ensuing interchange. In the mixed zone after the match a senior Madrid midfielder said teammates had been told the alleged word and stressed that the group could not accept such conduct, invoking the responsibility they feel as high-profile professionals and role models for young fans.
Vinicius later issued a strong message condemning racist behaviour and characterising such acts as cowardly, while also questioning how the incident was handled during the stoppage. There has been no immediate confirmation from UEFA on whether a formal investigation will be opened into the episode.
Aftermath and what comes next
The narrow scoreline sends the tie back to Madrid with momentum in the visitors’ favour, but lingering questions about the conduct on the pitch risk overshadowing the football. Mourinho was dismissed from the touchline again in Lisbon, a reminder that confrontational ties still produce flashpoints beyond the action itself.
On the sporting front, Madrid heads home with an advantage built on defensive solidity and the cutting play of its forwards. The return leg promises to be intense: one club will try to protect a slim lead and manage off-field tensions, while the other must balance the need for a positive result with clearing up the incident that paused the contest in Portugal. With disciplinary and institutional responses pending, both the result and the wider fallout will be closely watched when the teams meet again at the Bernabéu.
