Vinicius Junior struck a brilliant winner as Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon, in a Champions League playoff tie marred by a racism stoppage.
Benfica began the first leg with intensity at a packed Estadio da Luz. The hosts pressed high and forced early turnovers in midfield. Real Madrid took time to settle but gradually asserted control. The tempo remained cautious as both sides weighed risk.
Benfica threatened first through Fredrik Aursnes, whose fierce drive demanded a sharp save. Thibaut Courtois reacted well to push the effort clear. Real responded with wider circulation and longer spells of possession. The crowd remained restless as chances stayed limited.
Madrid’s attacking rhythm improved midway through the half. Trent Alexander Arnold split the defence with a precise pass for Federico Valverde. Vinicius Junior pulled his effort narrowly wide from a tight angle. Benfica briefly retreated as Madrid increased pressure.
Kylian Mbappe came close after meeting a dangerous cross at full stretch. Moments later, he fired over after a clever backheel assist. Anatoliy Trubin then denied Mbappe again with a strong save. Arda Guler also tested the goalkeeper late in the half.
The breakthrough arrived five minutes after the restart. Mbappe drove forward and released Vinicius on the left. The Brazilian shifted inside and curled a magnificent strike into the far corner. The finish silenced the stadium and rewarded Madrid’s dominance.
Vinicius celebrated emphatically and was booked by the referee. A heated exchange followed with Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni. Vinicius immediately approached the official and gestured toward the incident. Teammates gathered as tensions escalated.
Referee Francois Letexier halted play under UEFA protocol. Vinicius walked off the pitch and sat in the Madrid dugout. Both teams left the field during the stoppage. Play resumed after approximately ten minutes.
The atmosphere changed sharply once action restarted. Vinicius was loudly booed with every touch. During added time, an object was thrown from the stands and struck him. The incident further inflamed emotions inside the stadium.
Madrid maintained composure after the delay. Vinicius forced another save as Benfica tired. Courtois remained largely untested in the closing stages. Benfica struggled to create clear chances from open play.
Tensions boiled over late on the touchline. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho received two yellow cards in quick succession. He will miss the return leg in Madrid. There were twelve minutes of added time but no further goals.
Madrid finished with 16 shots to Benfica’s 10. Expected goals favoured the visitors by 1.11 to 0.41. Vinicius registered his 31st Champions League goal. That moved him past Kaka among Brazilian scorers in the competition.
Alexander Arnold played the full match and created several openings. Trubin’s saves kept Benfica alive in the tie. Courtois’ early stop proved equally important. The contest was defined by one moment of elite quality.
Real Madrid take a narrow advantage into the return leg. The second leg is scheduled for Wednesday 25 February at the Santiago Bernabeu. Benfica must chase the tie without their suspended coach. Madrid will aim to finish the job at home.
