Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over SL Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie for the 2025-2026 season.
The decisive goal came in the 50th minute through Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior. The match was briefly halted following his celebration in front of the home supporters, which sparked tension on the pitch.
Benfica head coach José Mourinho was seen speaking to the Brazilian winger during the stoppage, while Vinícius was shown a yellow card.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Vinícius informed the referee that Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni had directed a racist remark toward him.
The report stated that Prestianni appeared to cover his mouth with his shirt while speaking, allegedly to conceal his words.
The second leg is scheduled to take place next Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Real Madrid started with Thibaut Courtois in goal, supported by a defensive line featuring Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Carreras.
The midfield trio included Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga, while Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior led the attack.
The encounter came just three weeks after Benfica stunned Madrid with a 4-2 victory in the final round of the league phase, a result that still echoes inside the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid finished ninth in the league phase standings with 15 points, recording five wins and three defeats.
The Spanish giants scored 21 goals but conceded 12, highlighting their attacking strength alongside defensive vulnerabilities.
Benfica, meanwhile, secured their play-off spot in dramatic fashion, finishing 24th with nine points from three wins and five losses.
The Portuguese side scored 10 goals and conceded a similar number, underlining a campaign built more on resilience than dominance.
With a slim advantage heading into the return leg, Real Madrid will look to finish the job at home and advance to the Round of 16.
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