Vinicius Back Dancing in the Corner Flag for Bungkam and Destroy Benfica Supporters

JAKARTA - After receiving harsh ridicule, Vinicius Junior danced again. This time in front of Real Madrid supporters while leading his team into the 16th round of the Champions League, a week after accusing his opponent from Benfica of racially insulting him.

The Brazilian scored in the 80th minute to secure a 2-1 victory for the 15-time Champions League champions in the second leg of the playoff on Thursday, February 26, 2026, early morning WIB, giving them a 3-1 aggregate lead.

Vinicius celebrated his goal by dancing near the corner flag of the pitch as in the first leg - then in front of Benfica supporters - which triggered a confrontation with the Portuguese team's players and accusations that Gianluca Prestianni called him with racist insults.

"I'm happy Vini dances and keeps dancing, that means he scored a goal," said Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

"That's the Vinicius we have," said midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who scored Real Madrid's first goal in the 16th minute, minutes after Benfica took the lead through Rafa Silva.

Prestianni, who denied racially insulting Vinicius and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended for one match by UEFA and did not play in the second leg despite the Argentine traveling to Madrid.

UEFA previously on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, rejected Benfica's last-minute appeal against the temporary suspension.

In the second leg, Vinicius scored the winning goal through a counterattack, calmly firing low past the goalkeeper for his sixth goal in his last five games for Real Madrid.

More than 3,000 Benfica fans at the Bernabeu booed almost every time Vinicius touched the ball. They cheered when he lost control of the ball early in the game.

Benfica supporters also booed loudly when the name of the Brazilian was announced in the starting line-up before the match.

The jeers gradually subsided as the game progressed and Real Madrid took control of the game.

Vinicius also played a part in Real Madrid's second goal, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Before the match, Real Madrid fans displayed a banner that read 'No to Racism'. A 'Respect' banner was also displayed behind one of the goals at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid said in a statement after the match that they strongly asked the club's disciplinary committee to open a procedure to expel a supporter who was caught on television cameras making a Nazi salute before the match.

Los Blancos said the supporter appeared to be part of an organized group behind one of the goals at the Bernabeu.

"This member was identified by club security staff shortly after appearing on the broadcast and was immediately removed from the Santiago Bernabeu."

"Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sport and society," read a statement from Real Madrid.

Real Madrid fans also booed when Benfica center back Nicolas Otamendi touched the ball. Otamendi, who is also from Argentina, was one of the players who confronted Vinicius after the Brazilian's celebration near the Benfica flag in the first leg.

Also absent from Benfica was manager Jose Mourinho, the former Real Madrid coach who was sent off at the end of the first leg for complaining to the referee.

Mourinho did not participate in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and watched the match from the stands at the Bernabeu.

Apart from that, Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio had to be carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for examination after a hard collision with teammate Eduardo Camavinga in the second half.

The center back fell hard and had to be treated for several minutes on the field. The medical team wrapped his wound before taking him off the field.

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Asencio appeared to have suffered a neck injury, but it was not serious.

Los Blancos are already without striker Kylian Mbappe who is out with a knee injury.

"I hope it's not serious and he can return in a few days or weeks. Without Kylian, we need (Vini) more. He has to be our leader," said Arbeloa.