Real Madrid beats Benfica 1-0 in Champions League playoff first leg
Real Madrid defeated Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff stage on Tuesday night at Da Luz Stadium in Lisbon.
Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the match five minutes into the second half. He initiated a counterattack with a pass from Kylian Mbappe and netted the winner.
During the game, an altercation between Vinicius Junior and Benfica striker Gianluca Prestianni led to an 11-minute stoppage. The referee activated FIFA's anti-racism protocol. Real Madrid players threatened to walk off the pitch, but play resumed after the interruption.
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was sent off in the 85th minute after receiving two yellow cards.
Benfica managed only three shots on target in the closing stages and failed to equalize. Real Madrid secured a narrow advantage heading into the return leg on Wednesday at the Bernabeu Stadium.
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