Real Madrid's Racism Stance: A Win Off the Pitch

Real Madrid has reached the Champions League last 16 following their victory over Benfica. The win was highlighted by midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni as a significant moment in the fight against racism, stating that "there are more important things than this match, than football." This sentiment came after Vinicius Jr alleged he faced racial abuse from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg of their encounter.

Prestianni, who has denied the allegations, was handed a one-match ban, resulting in his absence from the return fixture. Real Madrid fans displayed a banner with the message "no to racism" prior to Wednesday's match, showing solidarity with Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian forward scored Real Madrid's second goal, contributing to their 2-1 victory on the night and a 3-1 aggregate win.

Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold commented on Vinicius Jr's demeanor, describing him as "very chilled" and "very relaxed" before the game. Alexander-Arnold noted that Vinicius Jr does not need to score to prove his capability, as he consistently demonstrates his quality and importance to the team when needed most.