Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior produced a moment of magic to secure a 1-0 Champions League play-off first-leg victory for Real Madrid against Benfica on Tuesday.
The Brazilian winger curled a sublime effort into the top corner in the 50th minute at the Estádio da Luz, separating the sides in a tense and hard-fought encounter.
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Shortly after scoring, Vinicius appeared to exchange words with Gianluca Prestianni before lodging a complaint with French referee François Letexier. The official halted proceedings for more than 10 minutes while implementing UEFA’s racism protocol, momentarily overshadowing the contest.
Benfica coach José Mourinho was sent off in the closing stages for vehement protests and will miss the return leg against his former club at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium next week.
Under head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, Madrid secured a narrow but valuable away win, avenging their dramatic 4-2 defeat to Benfica in the league phase, a result that had dropped the 15-time European champions into the play-off round.
Vinicius, revitalised since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso in January, dragged the first clear chance inches wide of the far post.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a fine save to deny Fredrik Aursnes from distance as Benfica competed strongly.
The visitors began to assert control before the interval, with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who scored a late goal when the sides met in January, thwarting Mbappé and Arda Güler.
Trubin, however, was helpless when Vinicius unleashed a magnificent curling strike five minutes into the second half, a moment of quality that ultimately proved decisive.
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