Real Madrid to send a potent message via Bernabéu Champions League mosaic

Wednesday’s Champions League playoff (second leg) between Real Madrid and Benfica has been declared as a ‘high-risk’ game after events in Lisbon last Tuesday.

The first leg match was halted for almost ten minutes after Vini Jr. claimed that he was racially abused by Benfica’s Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni. Despite the fact that the 20-year-old has been served with a suspension from UEFA as investigations surrounding the matter continue, the game is expected to be a tense affair given what occured at the Benfica stadium, coupled with the return of former coach Jose Mourinho back at the Bernabeu.

The winners will progress to the Round of 16 of the 2025-26 Champions League where Manchester City or Sporting CP await. The tie is also delicately poised with ‘Los Blancos’ holding a 1-0 lead form the game at the Estadio Da Luz.

‘Respect’

Ahead of Wednesday’s game, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium will display a mosaic when the players take to the pitch, bearing two potent messages following incidents last week in the Portuguese capital.

The mosaics will bear the messages: ‘No to racism’ and ‘Respect’ with the club anxious for a global audience to see the club’s clear condemnation after what Vinicius Jr. experienced last week in Lisbon.

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