Who: Actual Madrid vs Benfica
What: Champions League playoff, second leg
The place: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
The right way to comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT upfront of our stay textual content commentary stream.
Actual Madrid carry a slender 1-0 lead over Benfica going into the second leg of a Champions League playoff tie that has been overshadowed by allegations of racism.
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UEFA has suspended Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni from the second leg on Wednesday after he was accused of racially abusing Actual Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, who scored the one objective within the first sport in Lisbon final week.
In the meantime, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho, who can also be suspended for the second leg, has come under fire for criticising Vinicius for his effusive objective celebration.
So the Portuguese facet might be anticipating an particularly hostile welcome on the Bernabeu as they attempt to overturn their one-goal deficit and attain the final 16.
Courtois ‘disillusioned’ in Mourinho’s response
Vinicius wrote that “racists are above all cowards” on social media after the sport whereas Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe backed his teammate and mentioned he had heard Prestianni calling the winger a “monkey”.
The 20-year-old Benfica midfielder, who hid his mouth together with his shirt in the course of the confrontation with Vinicius, insisted he didn’t racially abuse the Brazilian ahead after his beautiful objective on the Estadio da Luz.
Prestianni may miss not less than 10 video games if European soccer’s governing physique finds he racially abused Vinicius.
Mourinho waded into the controversy by saying Vinicius’s objective celebration was disrespectful and insisting Benfica was not a racist membership as a result of their greatest icon, Eusebio, was Black.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mentioned he disagreed with Mourinho’s phrases.
“On the finish of the day, Mourinho is Mourinho. As a coach, you’re all the time, I believe, going to defend your membership and what your participant has informed you,” Courtois mentioned.
“The one factor that disappoints me a bit is utilizing Vini’s celebration. I don’t suppose Vini did something incorrect there,” he added.
“I don’t suppose we will justify alleged racism due to a celebration.”
Mourinho’s Bernabeu homecoming upended by suspension
Benfica’s boss has not set foot within the Santiago Bernabeu since leaving Actual Madrid in 2013, and he can not sit within the dugout for the playoff’s second leg after being despatched off throughout his crew’s 1-0 first-leg defeat in Lisbon final week for making vituperative complaints in regards to the officers from the touchline.
Mourinho mentioned referee Francois Letexier was avoiding reserving Madrid gamers who have been susceptible to suspension for the second leg.
“I’ve had my butt on the bench for 1,400 video games and [I could see that] he knew completely properly who he may e book and who he couldn’t,” Mourinho complained bitterly.
“I [won’t be] sitting on the bench. I can’t go to the dressing room. I can’t talk with the crew,” he added. “It’s arduous for me, however my teammates and my assistants are there. They’ll do their job.”
Benfica additionally mentioned Mourinho was not going to attend the pregame information convention on Tuesday and his assistant would take over.
Arbeloa says UEFA have likelihood for ‘turning level’ in opposition to racism
Actual Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa referred to as on UEFA to make their battle in opposition to racism into greater than only a slogan after the alleged abuse of Vinicius Jr.
“We’ve got an ideal alternative to mark a turning level within the battle in opposition to racism,” Arbeloa informed reporters on Tuesday.
“UEFA, which has all the time been and has led this battle in opposition to racism, now has the possibility to not depart it at only a slogan, at only a good banner earlier than matches, and I hope that they seize this chance.”
Arbeloa mentioned he believed Vinicius will thrive on Wednesday on the Santiago Bernabeu because the report 15-time champions bid to achieve the final 16.
“Vinicius Jr has all the time proven plenty of bravery and plenty of character,” Arbeloa mentioned. “That’s all the time his response. It all the time has been, and I believe it all the time might be.
“He’s a fighter, and I’m certain tomorrow he’ll exit to battle and have an ideal sport and hold exhibiting he’s probably the greatest gamers on the planet.”
Head-to-head
That is solely the sixth assembly between two of the most important golf equipment from Spain and Portugal. Benfica have gained three of the video games whereas Actual Madrid have gained two.
The 2 golf equipment additionally confronted one another in a league stage match in January when Mourinho’s crew stunned his former club in a 4-2 win that allowed Benfica to qualify and prevented Madrid from routinely reaching the spherical of 16.
What number of instances have Madrid and Benfica gained the Champions League?
Madrid are the report winners of Europe’s premier membership competitors with 15 titles to their title, the final coming in 2024.
Benfica have lifted the trophy on two events, and each of these got here in consecutive years.
In what was considered Benfica’s golden period, Portuguese legend Eusebio helped the crew to wins in opposition to Barcelona in 1961 and Actual Madrid in 1962.
A hat-trick from Hungary’s best export, Ferenc Puskas, couldn’t save Madrid as Benfica earned a 5-3 win that included a double from Eusebio.
Actual Madrid’s crew information
Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos and Eder Militao have all been dominated out by means of accidents whereas centre again Dean Huijsen, who missed the 2-1 defeat at Osasuna over the weekend with a muscular downside, is a significant doubt.
Winger Rodrygo might be unavailable as a consequence of a suspension however would anyway be a doubt as he struggles to recuperate from a hamstring situation.
Raul Asencio is obtainable once more after getting back from suspension.
Vinicius Jr might be seeking to rating for the fifth sport in a row as he’s set to start out up entrance alongside Mbappe.
Predicted beginning XI
Courtois (goalkeeper); Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rudiger, Carreras; Valverde, Guler, Tchouameni, Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Benfica’s crew information
The Portuguese facet’s solely harm concern seems to be midfielder Joao Veloso, who will miss the sport with a shoulder situation.
Richard Rios may come into the midfield to interchange the suspended Prestianni.
Benfica will look to Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis so as to add to his 28 objectives in all competitions this season as he’s set to steer the road.
Predicted beginning XI:
Trubin (goalkeeper); Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Aursnes; Lukebakio, Rafa, Schjelderup; Pavlidis
