Benfica vs Real Madrid 0-1: Champions League playoff – as it happened

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of Benfica vs Real Madrid in Lisbon.

There will no doubt be plenty of fallout from what turned out to be a very ugly evening in Portugal. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with all of the latest updates on the events that overshadowed tonight’s game.

Al Jazeera Sport will be back tomorrow for more Champions League playoff action, as Inter Milan travel to Bodo/Glimt for an intriguing encounter inside the Arctic Circle.

But for now, from me, Adam Hancock and my colleague Patrick Keddie, it’s goodbye.

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has given his views on the ugly scenes in Lisbon this evening.

This is what he told Amazon Prime:

“The goal should be the top, crazy moment of the game – an amazing goal. This talent [Vinicius Junior] is able to do beautiful things, but he was not just happy to score that astonishing goal, and the game was over.”

On the alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Junior: “Words were exchanged. I want to be independent. I don’t want to say I believe in Prestianni or believe in Vinicius.”

On what he said to Vinicius Junior after the incident: “I told him, ‘When you score a goal like that, you just celebrate in a respectful way’. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was Black. This club, the last thing that it is, is racist.”

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has also been speaking about the alleged abuse that Vinicius Junior has faced.

“You will have to ask Benfica’s players [about what happened]. I think everyone can see what happened with Prestianni.”

The Madrid coach also said that, “We have to fight against this type of attitude”, and, “If we don’t respect each other, then it is a problem”.

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been speaking to Amazon Prime after this evening’s match in Lisbon.

As you’d expect, most of his comments were about the alleged racist abuse of his teammate, Vinicius Junior.

“I can’t comment too much on it as it is an ongoing investigation at this point. I think what has happened tonight is a disgrace to football and overshadowed the performance as well after an amazing goal,” he said.

“Vini has been subject to this a few times throughout his career. To ruin a night like this for our team is a disgrace. There is no place for it in football or society. It is disgusting.”

First-leg victory for Real Madrid.#UCL pic.twitter.com/mKL1KDLZ7q

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 17, 2026

It was a dramatic night in Monaco as Paris Saint-Germain came from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 after the first leg.

Two quick goals from Folarin Balogun sent Monaco flying out of the blocks, with Vitinha also seeing a penalty saved.

But goals from Desire Doue and Achraf Hakimi pulled PSG back into it before the break. Doue was then on the scoresheet again in the second half, scoring the winner for the defending champions.

Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund ran out 2-0 winners against Atalanta, with first-half goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier getting the job done for the German side.

In the early game this evening, Galatasaray came from 2-1 behind to stun Juventus 5-2 in Istanbul.

Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been awarded the player of the match this evening.

UEFA’s technical panel, who decide these things, said Tchouameni put in “a confident performance by a player in a specialist position”.

On a bad night for football, he was certainly one of the positives.

💫 Con todos ustedes… ¡El MVP del partido!
😏 @atchouameni pic.twitter.com/Pq8heJVKD6

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 17, 2026

A few weeks ago, Benfica were celebrating a wonderful win over Real Madrid and a dramatic late goal from Anatoliy Trubin.

Tonight, the club is at the centre of controversy.

Gianluca Prestianni has been accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior, while manager Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands for his complaints at the referee.

The club could also be in serious trouble for the behaviour of their fans, with several items thrown at Madrid players.

⏹ Full-time.#SLBRMCF | #UCL pic.twitter.com/HabhgO0NRT

— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) February 17, 2026

7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/13RwI55XiU

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 17, 2026

That was a dramatic second half, but very much for all of the wrong reasons.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring after 50 minutes, but his goal was overshadowed by the events that followed.

The Associated Press news agency reports that television cameras picked up Vinicius Junior telling the referee that Prestianni had called him a “monkey”.

The Brazilian was clearly furious and sat on the touchline as tempers flared on the pitch.

The game did eventually continue, with Mourinho sent to the stands and several objects being thrown onto the pitch by the home fans.

🏁 @SLBenfica 0-1 @RealMadrid
⚽ 50' @vinijr pic.twitter.com/GfaqOy5Ywi

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 17, 2026

The corner is finally taken, with Trubin clearing the ball through a pile of bodies.

That’s the last action as the referee blows for full-time. That was an ugly, ugly second half.

Full-time: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

Los Blancos win a corner, and several items are thrown towards Vinicius Junior as he heads over to take it.

These are disgraceful scenes.

90+13 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

Carvajal comes on to replace Carreras.

90+10 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

Real Madrid are doing a good job of taking the sting out of this long period of stoppage time.

Los Blancos are keeping the ball well, with Dani Carvajal preparing to come on.

90+9 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

The corner is finally taken, and the ball flies straight into the gloves of Trubin.

90+6 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

Thiago Pitarch comes on to make his Madrid debut, replacing Camavinga.

The corner is about to be taken, but an object has been thrown into the penalty area, forcing the referee to halt the game again.

90+6 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

Sudakov whips in the corner, but he can’t beat the first man as Valverde clears.

The Benfica man is then booked for a blatant swipe at Vinicius Junior from behind.

90+3 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

We were anticipating a fair amount of stoppage time, and we have it. Plenty of time for more drama in this one.

90+1 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

Mbappe is shown a yellow card before the set piece is even taken.

Cabral takes the free kick from about 20 yards out, and the ball deflects off the wall before looping onto the roof of the net. That wasn’t far away.

Madrid made their first change of the night before that set piece, with Arda Guler replaced by Brahim Diaz.

89 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid 

The Benfica boss was furious after Rios went down on the edge of the area and the referee refused to show a card to Vinicius Junior.

The veteran manager had plenty to say to the referee, even after being yellow-carded. He has now been shown a second yellow and sent to the stands.

86 mins: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid