Real Madrid wins 1-0 against Benfica as racism report stops game for ten minutes

The first leg of the Champions League playoff between Benfica and Real Madrid ended with a 1-0 win for the visitors. While the result gives Real Madrid an advantage, the game is being discussed more for what happened off the ball than on it. After Vinícius Jr scored the only goal in the 50th minute, the match stopped for ten minutes. This happened because the referee started a special plan to deal with racism. There was high tension between the players and in the stands. Even with 12 minutes of extra time at the end, Benfica could not score. The night ended with a win for the Spanish team but also with a lot of bad feelings and an official investigation.

A Timeline of the Night in Lisbon

The game took place on February 17, 2026, at Benfica’s stadium. It was the first part of a two-match series to see who stays in the Champions League.

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• Pre-match: Jose Mourinho, the Benfica coach, had to watch from the stands. He was serving a ban because of a red card in a previous game.

• 50th Minute: Vinícius Jr scored a goal from a difficult angle. This put Real Madrid ahead.

• Immediately after the goal: A verbal fight started between Vinícius Jr and Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni.

• Stoppage: Referee Francois Letexier stopped the game. He followed the official UEFA rules for racism. The game did not start again for ten minutes.

• The Finish: The game had many more stops. The referee added 12 minutes of extra time. Real Madrid held onto their 1-0 lead until the final whistle.

Official Match Data and Events

The following table shows the main facts from the match report:

The game was stopped for 10 minutes following the opening goal due to reports of racial abuse.

The Goal and the Game Delay

The match changed completely in the 50th minute. Vinícius Jr hit a powerful shot to give Real Madrid the lead. However, the celebration did not last long. Reports say that during the celebration, words were exchanged between players. This led the referee to move to the side of the pitch to talk to officials.

The referee used the "racism protocol." This is a set of steps used when a player says they have been bullied or called names based on their race. During the 10-minute break, the players waited on the pitch while the referee checked the situation. The game did start again, but the mood in the stadium was very angry.

Read More: Jose Mourinho says Vinicius Junior celebration caused trouble in Lisbon match

Management from the Stands

A major part of the night was the absence of Jose Mourinho from the touchline. The Benfica manager was forced to watch from the seating area because of a past red card.

"Jose watches on. There will be more fallout in the wake of his red card on a frustrating night for Benfica."

Without their leader on the grass, Benfica seemed to struggle with their discipline. There were several more arguments between players as the game went on. At the 90+6 minute mark, the referee had to stop the game again because of "unrest" among the players and the people in the stadium.

Conflicting Reports on the Field

There is some confusion about what exactly was said on the pitch. Some reports say Vinícius Jr directly accused a Benfica player of using a racist word. Others focus on the reaction of the crowd.

• Viewpoint A: The referee followed the rules correctly to protect the players. The 10-minute break was necessary to make sure the game could continue safely.

• Viewpoint B: Some believe the high tension of the playoff game caused the players to lose control of their emotions, making a difficult situation even worse.

One report also mentioned a goal by Benfica's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, but the official final score from all major sources confirms that Real Madrid won 1-0 and Benfica did not score.

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Expert Analysis of the Incident

Football experts say this match shows that racism is still a big problem in the sport. When a referee starts the anti-racism protocol, it is a very serious step. It shows that the official felt the situation was bad enough to stop the game.

The fact that the game had 12 minutes of extra time shows how much the incident disrupted the play. Experts note that Real Madrid stayed calm and focused on the game, while Benfica seemed more affected by the anger on the field. The focus will now move to the UEFA disciplinary committee. They will look at the referee's report to decide if the club or specific players should be punished.

Summary of Findings

The match between Benfica and Real Madrid ended with a 1-0 score, but the football was not the main story.

Read More: Benfica vs Real Madrid Champions League Playoff: Why Jose Mourinho's team could win the first leg

• Evidence of a Goal: Vinícius Jr scored a valid goal in the 50th minute.

• Evidence of Trouble: The referee stopped the game for 10 minutes specifically to deal with a report of racism.

• Unanswered Questions: It is not yet clear exactly what was said or which fans or players were involved in the abuse.

• Next Steps: UEFA will look at the video and the referee’s notes. Both teams will play the second leg soon, but this incident will likely cause more problems for Benfica regarding their fans and player conduct.

Used Sources

• ESPN: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid: Vinícius Jr scores only goal amid ugly scenes

• The Athletic: Benfica vs Real Madrid live updates: Alleged racial abuse overshadows Champions League play-off

• Evening Standard: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid: Visitors edge fiery clash

• Al Jazeera: Madrid beat Benfica in match overshadowed by alleged racist abuse

• Sporting News: Benfica vs. Real Madrid final score: Vinicius stunner marred by racial abuse

• AS: Benfica vs Real Madrid summary: score, stats, goals & highlights

• Sky Sports: Live Commentary - Benfica vs Real Madrid | 17.02.2026

• UEFA Official: Benfica vs Real Madrid: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Play-offs