Real Madrid’s win over Benfica to reach the Champions League last 16 was a “victory for everyone who stands against racism,” according to Aurelien Tchouameni.
Vinicius Jr had accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during the first leg, a claim Prestianni denied. Prestianni was later given a one-match ban and missed the second leg.
Before kick-off, Real Madrid fans showed support for Vinicius by displaying a “no to racism” banner. On the pitch, Vinicius scored again as Real Madrid came from 1-0 down to beat Benfica 2-1 on the night, winning 3-1 on aggregate.
Tchouameni said some things are more important than football and called the result a win for everyone who stands against racism. He also said the decision to suspend Prestianni was the right one.
Trent Alexander-Arnold praised Vinicius, saying he stayed calm and did not need to prove anything. Vinicius celebrated his goal with his usual dance and later posted on social media that “the dance goes on.”
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois both praised Vinicius for his performance.
The only downside for Real Madrid was that Kylian Mbappe missed the match with a knee injury and could be out for some time.
