Real Madrid took a slender advantage back to Spain after a dramatic 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on 17 February 2026 — a night overshadowed by allegations of racist abuse directed at Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian forward proved decisive at the Estadio da Luz, scoring the only goal of a fiery encounter, but the match was suspended for more than 10 minutes in the second half following his complaint to referee Francois Letexier.
Vinicius struck five minutes after the restart with a superb effort that stunned the Lisbon crowd and handed Madrid a crucial away lead. It was a moment of quality in an otherwise fractious contest, with Alvaro Arbeloa’s side seeking revenge for their 4-2 defeat to Benfica last month.
Real should have been further ahead by the interval. Vinicius missed a gilt-edged first-half opportunity, while Kylian Mbappe failed to connect with a dangerous delivery from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mbappe, who had been an injury concern before the match, later dragged another chance high and wide after neat interplay in the final third.
Despite the missed opportunities, Madrid’s clinical edge ultimately proved enough to secure the advantage ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The evening took a troubling turn shortly after Vinicius’ goal. Television footage showed a heated exchange between the Brazilian and Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni during celebrations.
Prestianni appeared to cover his mouth with his shirt before speaking, prompting Vinicius and nearby Madrid players to allege that a racist remark had been made. Vinicius, who has previously been subjected to racist abuse in Spain, immediately reported the matter to Letexier.
The referee activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms and halting the match. Real’s players briefly threatened to leave the pitch as tensions escalated, while a melee broke out involving players and coaching staff. A member of Madrid’s backroom team was shown a red card amid the chaos.
The suspension lasted approximately 10 to 11 minutes before the referee allowed play to resume.
Tempers remained high after the restart. Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, now in charge of Benfica, was sent off following an animated reaction to a challenge by Eduardo Camavinga on Evangelos Pavlidis near the edge of the penalty area.
Vinicius, visibly distressed during the stoppage, had to be calmed by team-mates and coaching staff before returning to action.
When the final whistle sounded, Madrid had secured a narrow but valuable lead in the tie. The 15-time European champions now take a 1-0 cushion back to the Bernabeu, placing themselves firmly in contention for a place in the last 16.
