Benfica vs Real Madrid: Vinicius screamer, racism incident and Mourinho red card as Los Blancos take first-leg advantage

Vinicius Jr scored a screamer to help Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 at Estadio Da Luz and take a first-leg advantage in their Champions League play-offs first-leg clash.

The game was not without incident; a racism protocol ensued after Vinicius's goal, and Jose Mourinho was sent off late in the match.

 Real Madrid controlled and dominated most of the first-half, but failed to finish their chances, with Kylian Mbappé the biggest victim of the profligacy.

It took until the 50th minute for the breakthrough. Vinícius Júnior collected a pass from Kylian Mbappé on the left, cut inside and curled a brilliant right-footed strike into the top corner from the edge of the box, leaving Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin no chance and giving the visitors a crucial lead. 

Shortly after his goal, Vinícius was shown a yellow card for excessive celebration, and the game’s rhythm was disrupted when play was halted for around 10 minutes amid incidents in the crowd as the club’s anti-racism protocol was activated. 

Benfica struggled to create sustained pressure for the remainder of the match. The hosts had limited shots on target and were unable to test Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois meaningfully, while the Spanish champions managed the game effectively by controlling possession and defending resolutely when required. 

The match finished 0–1 in favour of Real Madrid, with the visitors carrying a slender but significant advantage into the second leg. Jose Mourinho was shown a second yellow card late in the game for dissent and finished the game in the stands.