Real Madrid to face Benfica in Champions League match

Benfica to Face Hostile Welcome in Champions League Playoff Second Leg

Real Madrid will host Benfica at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League playoff tie. The Portuguese side is seeking to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg, which was marred by allegations of racist abuse against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.

UEFA has suspended Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni from the second leg after he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Jr during the first game in Lisbon. Additionally, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho will not be present for the match due to his own suspension, which stems from criticizing Vinicius’s goal celebration.

The controversy surrounding Prestianni and Mourinho has led to a tense atmosphere ahead of the match. Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has backed Vinicius Jr, stating that he had heard Prestianni call him a “monkey.” The 20-year-old Benfica midfielder denies having racially abused Vinicius Jr.

Benfica’s coach Jose Mourinho has defended his team, claiming they are not a racist club despite their biggest icon, Eusebio, being Black. However, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois disagrees with Mourinho’s stance, saying that using alleged racism as an excuse is not justified.

The match will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday at 9pm GMT. UEFA has also called for a stronger response to racism in football, with coach Alvaro Arbeloa urging the governing body to seize the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Source: Al Jazeera