All articles tagged with #vinicius junior
Vinícius Júnior's 80th-minute strike sealed Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Benfica at the Bernabéu, sending them 3-1 on aggregate to the Champions League last 16 despite away fans booing him after last week's racism controversy; Aurélien Tchouaméni had equalized after Rafa Silva's opener, and Madrid displayed anti-racism banners.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, under UEFA review and with a provisional suspension, is set to claim Vinícius Júnior called him a 'dwarf' during the Champions League play-off with Real Madrid. Mbappé backs Vinínius’ account of the abuse, and Prestianni could face a ban of up to ten games for racial slurs and homophobic language under UEFA rules.
Osasuna beat Real Madrid 2-1 at El Sadar as Budimir converted a first-half penalty after Courtois saved, Vinícius Júnior leveled for Madrid in the second half, and Raúl Asencio sealed the win with a late finish after a setup from Raúl García.
Real Madrid defeated Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon with Vinícius Júnior scoring the winner, after a 10-minute stoppage due to racist abuse. Mourinho addressed the incident by saying he wouldn’t take sides, urged respectful celebrations, defended Benfica’s history, and noted that racism occurs in many stadiums while emphasizing his independence in judging the situation.
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior scored a brilliant winner in Lisbon, but missiles, allegations of racist abuse from Benfica fans, and a hostile atmosphere dominated the night, prompting post-match debate, Mourinho’s comments, Mbappé’s remarks, and UEFA to review the incident.
Benfica clarifies its anti-racism stance as Mourinho cites conflicting accounts in a racism row involving Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni, prompting criticism from Kick It Out and support from FIFA president Infantino to investigate.
Mourinho claimed Vinicius Jr incited racist abuse during Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off with Benfica, contrasting his celebration with accusations of provocation. Vinicius said he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni after scoring; Prestianni denied the insult. Benfica argued the claims could not be heard in the footage. The remarks drew criticism from Seedorf and Henry, while UEFA said official reports are being reviewed.
Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during Real Madrid's 1-0 win, triggering a 10-minute stoppage; Mourinho sparked backlash by suggesting Vinicius celebrated disrespectfully and questioning whether Benfica is racist, comments described as a ‘big mistake’ by Seedorf and condemned by Alexander-Arnold. The incident drew further condemnation from Mbappe and Henry, with calls for urgent UEFA action ahead of the second leg.
Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout tie at Benfica was paused for 10 minutes after Vinicius Junior alleged racist abuse; following a discussion with referee Francois Letexier and an interaction with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, play resumed with Real Madrid leading 1-0. The match finished 1-0 after extended stoppage time (12 minutes), during which an object struck Vinicius. Vinicius posted a condemnation of racism on Instagram, while Pavlidis defended Prestianni and no further comments from him have been issued.
Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu to extend their La Liga winning streak to eight, with Vinícius Júnior scoring two penalties and goals from Fede Valverde and Gonzalo García, while Mikel Oyarzabal netted a late penalty for Real Sociedad. Mbappé did not feature due to a knee issue, and the piece also frames questions on the right-back choice and how García fits with Mbappé, along with notes on penalties this season and Madrid’s ongoing defensive stats challenge.
Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0 to extend their La Liga winning streak, with Kylian Mbappé scoring a poacher’s finish and then converting a late penalty after a tight first half; Vinícius Júnior looked back to form, Camavinga stepped in for the suspended Tchouaméni, and the performance suggested a refreshed, collective mentality for Madrid.
Real Madrid thumped Monaco 6-1 in the Champions League at the Bernabéu, with Mbappé scoring early, followed by Franco Mastantuono, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and a Thilo Kehrer own goal sealing the win. The match showcased a very young Real side under Álvaro Arbeloa, including Camavinga at left-back, and delivered a much-needed confidence boost amid a tense atmosphere from a split crowd.
Real Madrid unexpectedly dismissed Xabi Alonso after a turbulent eight-month spell defined by clashes with senior players over discipline and tactics, including Vinicius Junior’s October outburst; a slide in form after a strong start prompted Florentino Perez to exercise his ultimate authority and replace Alonso with Alvaro Arbeloa, signaling a new era for the club.
Real Madrid dismissed Xabi Alonso after seven months in charge, citing inconsistent results and a public rift with Vinicius Junior, with Florentino Perez reportedly losing faith in his coach. Álvaro Arbeloa, a club legend, was promoted from Real Madrid Castilla to replace him, despite limited top-flight coaching experience.
Real Madrid lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the 2026 Spanish Supercup in Jeddah. Xabi Alonso spoke of a mix of disappointment and pride, praising his team's resilience and competitive display as they pushed for an equaliser. Vinicius Junior was Madrid's standout, while Alonso explained Mbappe was brought on late with the aim of creating imbalance before Barcelona's decisive goal. Madrid look to recover injured players and build momentum for the season.