Real Madrid win against Benfica for 'everyone who is against racism'
BBC World
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Real Madrid secured a 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica in their Champions League match, with midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni calling the win a "victory for everyone who stands against racism." The game took place amid allegations of racial abuse aimed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg. Although Prestianni denied the claims, he was suspended for the return match and did not play in the second leg. Real Madrid's players and fans showed strong support for Vinicius, with a banner reading "No to racism" displayed before the game.
Vinicius continued to shine on the field, scoring his second goal of the tie in the 80th minute, which helped Real Madrid come back from a 1-0 deficit and secure their place in the last 16. His dancing celebration after each goal became a symbol of resilience and joy in the face of adversity. Tchouameni praised Vinicius's composure and emphasized that the game was about more than football, highlighting the importance of standing against racism.
Real Madrid's victory also saw the return of former coach Jose Mourinho to the Bernabeu stadium, though he was unable to take charge due to a suspension. The match was marred by the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who missed the game with a knee injury and is expected to be out for several weeks. Despite this setback, Real Madrid's focus remains on building momentum in their Champions League campaign while continuing to address issues of racism in football.
The game underscored the importance of unity and solidarity against racial discrimination, both on and off the field. Vinicius's performance and the collective support from his team and fans sent a powerful message about the need to combat racism in sports and society. Real Madrid
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/26/2026