benfica - real madrid: Real win overshadowed as game halted over alleged racist abuse
Real Madrid secured a 1-0 first-leg victory over Benfica at the Estadio da Luz, but the result was eclipsed when the match was temporarily halted after Vinícius Júnior raised an allegation of racist abuse following his goal celebration. The incident has prompted heated reactions from players and ex-professionals and leaves the tie clouded ahead of the second leg on 24 and 25 February (ET).
Match summary and key moments
Vinícius Júnior scored the decisive goal to give Real Madrid the lead, a moment that should have been the highlight of the night. Instead, celebrations were followed by a confrontation that spiralled into a stoppage of play. The interruption occurred when Vinícius made a complaint to the match officials; following a break in play and exchanges on the pitch, the game eventually resumed and Real held on for the away win.
Elsewhere in Europe, notable Champions League first-leg results included Monaco 2-3 PSG, Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Atalanta and Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus, leaving several ties finely poised ahead of the return fixtures on 24 and 25 February (ET).
Allegations, reactions and fallout
The night took a confrontational turn after Vinícius claimed he had been subjected to racist abuse during an exchange with a Benfica player following his goal. Video and images from the scene showed a heated exchange and one player placing his shirt over his mouth in the moments that followed, an action that has been widely discussed in the aftermath.
Vinícius later posted on social media, saying racists are cowards and expressing frustration at how the situation was handled. He questioned receiving a yellow card for celebrating while describing the match protocols that followed as poorly executed and ineffective. He also made clear he preferred the headlines to focus on the team’s performance, but felt compelled to speak out.
Former players and team staff reacted strongly. One veteran midfielder framed the episode as an educational moment, urging players, coaches and referees to be more alert and to implement gestures and procedures that deter such abuse. He described it as an opportunity for the sport to protect itself and to support the players who are targeted.
Real Madrid’s coach emphasised the club’s stance against racism and said the team supported Vinícius. He also confirmed discussions with the player after the on-field break and said Vinícius was willing to return to action and help the team see out the match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, speaking after the game, was blunt about the wider implications: "It's a disgrace to football. " He described the episode as overshadowing a strong team performance and said there is no place for such behaviour in the game or society. The full circumstances are subject to investigation, but players and staff on the pitch expressed clear distress at how the night unfolded.
Next steps and the wider context
Match officials and governing bodies will review events from the Estadio da Luz as the two teams prepare for the decisive second leg next week on 24 and 25 February (ET). Investigations into alleged discriminatory conduct in high-profile fixtures typically involve collecting match footage, referee reports and statements from players and club officials before any sanctions or formal findings are announced.
For now, the sporting focus shifts back to the competition: Real travel with a narrow advantage but with clear distractions, while Benfica will be under pressure at home to overturn the deficit and provide answers about the conduct that disrupted the first leg. The episode has reignited debate over how stadiums, clubs and football’s institutions handle allegations of racist abuse, and many in the game are calling for clearer protocols and stronger, faster action to protect players and preserve the integrity of the competition.
