Aurelien Tchouameni believes Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Benfica to seal a 3-1 win on aggregate in the Champions League knock-out play-offs was a “victory for everyone who stands against racism”.
Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal to send Madrid into the last 16 of the competition, just eight days after he was allegedly racially abused by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni in the first leg of the tie.
“This is a victory for everyone who stands against racism,” midfielder Tchouameni said after the victory.
“Many things, I think there are more important things than the match, than football.
“Vinicius keeps his confidence and keeps focused on what he needs to do.”
Prestianni was suspended for the fixture but travelled with the squad to Madrid. The club denied the allegations and Benfica president Rui Costa claimed they would not “permit a racist player within the squad”.
Real fans held up banners with messages of support for Vinicius – who had scored the only goal in Lisbon – before kick-off at the Santiago Bernabeu.
And as the players took to the field, the messages – “No to racism” and “Respect” – were read out.
Benfica made the perfect start, levelling the tie after 14 minutes through Rafa Silva, but Aurelien Tchouameni put Madrid back in charge with a powerful strike from distance.
But the defining moment belonged to Vinicius, who scampered through on goal to seal the deal for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining. He wheeled away in celebration, soaking in the roar from the home support with a dance by the corner flag – a goal that effectively ended the contest and carried emotional weight and significance.
UEFA had imposed a provisional sanction on Prestianni on Monday, ruling him out of the tie, although the Argentinian winger had travelled to Madrid as part of the Benfica squad.
Benfica had appealed against the decision to ban Prestianni, but UEFA dismissed the Portuguese club’s case on Wednesday afternoon.
“Mr Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible,” a UEFA statement read.
UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator (EDI) following the first leg and made a swift decision.
UEFA said on Monday the imposition of a provisional suspension was “without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies”.
The Brazilian left the field and refused to return, resulting in a stoppage in play that lasted 10 minutes of last Tuesday’s first leg.
It came after Vinicius had given his team the lead with a wonderful individual strike, curling the ball home from a tight angle five minutes into the second half.
After celebrating in front of the home fans, he became suddenly and visibly upset about something said to him and immediately informed the referee, who stopped the match.
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho, who was roundly criticised for his comments about the incident after the game, did not conduct the usual pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
Mourinho appeared to intimate after the first leg that the winger had brought any abuse upon himself with his celebration and said that “a stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always”.
Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out responded by accusing Mourinho of “gaslighting”.
Mourinho was expected to watch the second leg from the stands after being sent off in Lisbon for angrily shouting towards referee Francois Letexier.
Real will play either Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City in the last 16 when the draw is made from 11am on Friday. (SkySports)
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