Real Madrid edge SL Benfica 1-0ALLEGED RACIST ABUSE: Vinicius Junior argued with Gianluca Prestianni, after which he complained to the referee, who halted the match for 10 minutesAFP, LISBONVinicius Junior on Tuesday scored a sensational goal to earn Real Madrid a 1-0 UEFA Champions League playoff first-leg victory at SL Benfica in a match marred by apparent racist abuse aimed at the Brazilian. Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said Vinicius told his teammates that Prestianni called him a “monkey.”Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, left, scores against SL Benfica in their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters“Vini is doing good, calm,” Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa told Movistar. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine save to keep out Fredrik Aursnes’ deflected effort from distance as Benfica held their own. When the game eventually resumed, Vinicius was jeered by Benfica supporters, and three times denied by Trubin in the minutes that followed.

Source: Taipei Times February 18, 2026 17:15 UTC