The match between Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon, played in the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage, brought a lot of tension and excitement.
Madrid celebrated a narrow victory with a score of 1:0, and the decisive goal was scored by Vinicius Junior in the 50th minute of the match.
However, the goal was followed by stormy reactions on the field, which further raised the temperature.
Real players, led by Vinicius, claimed that Benfica’s player Gianluca Prestianni directed racist insults at the Brazilian forward.
Vinicius informed the head referee Francois Letexier about everything, as well as the coach of the home team, Jose Mourinho.
The referee then activated the provided protocol and temporarily stopped the match, but the match soon resumed without disciplinary measures against Prestianni.
Additional attention was drawn to a detail from the referee’s compensation. In a verbal confrontation with Vinicius, Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi lifted his shirt and showed off the tattoos of the trophies he won during his career.
Vinicius: “Tengo dos Champions”
Otamendi lifts the shirt and says: “Yo tengo un Mundial”
¡BOOOOM! pic.twitter.com/k0P1GyQxKF
— -1899- (@_Futbolero_) February 17, 2026
We are talking about the titles of the world champion with Argentina, the winner of the Copa America and the winner of the Finalissima, the meeting between the champions of Europe and South America.
Otamendi showed Vini Jr. his tattoos of the Finalissima, World Cup and Copa América he’s won.
Vini couldn’t help but laugh pic.twitter.com/5QGQXfXx0p
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 17, 2026
The scene soon went viral and further marked the meeting, which was already full of tension.
(Vijesti.ba)
