Real Madrid’s victory over Benfica is for ‘everyone against racism’: Tchouameni

Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said his team’s 2-1 win against Benfica on Wednesday to reach the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League last-16 was a victory for «anyone who is against racism».

The Frenchman was referring to the first leg of the play-off match, which Madrid won 1-0 last week and which was marred by alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Junior by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.

«We didn’t play our best game of the season, that’s for sure. But I think there are things more important than this game, and more important than football,» Tchouameni told reporters.

Prestianni was provisionally suspended by UEFA for the match while the incident is investigated, and Benfica had an appeal against his ban rejected earlier on Wednesday.

“The dance continues,” Vinicius wrote on social media afterwards, along with a photo of a large banner hanging in the Bernabeu that read “no to racism”.

Real Madrid said it had ejected one of its own supporters before the match for giving the Nazi salute.

«This (club) member was identified by club security staff shortly after appearing on the (television) broadcast and was immediately expelled from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium,» Madrid said in a statement.

“Real Madrid condemns these types of gestures and expressions that incite violence and hatred in sport and society,” it added.

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Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was happy when Vinicius found the net. «(I reacted) obviously with joy, because of the great goal he scored, and because it was him, he deserves it. Lihat juga tgb5. Without (Kylian) Mbappe, I think it’s even more important, and I’m very happy for him,» Arbeloa said.

Before the match, Arbeloa said French superstar Mbappe would be absent for some time as he recovers from a knee problem.

«After yesterday’s session we spoke to the doctors, I spoke to him and we felt that it was best for him to stop, recover 100 percent and get back to top form, confident and without any discomfort for everything that is to come, which is obviously very important,» Arbeloa told reporters after the match.

Asked if it was discomfort or an injury, he added: “I think we can call it an injury, but it seems, and I hope, that it is not a very serious injury, nothing serious, and that he can come back in a few days or weeks.”

Published on February 26, 2026