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The big issues
Nothing should divert attention away from what happened after Vinícius Júnior’s goal for Real Madrid in their 1-0 victory at Benfica on Tuesday. It would be frivolous to do so. The Brazilian scored one of the finest goals of a career marked by spectacular strikes, but this week’s Champions League action will be remembered for the regrettable flashpoint that followed.
Vinícius says Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him in the melee that followed the Brazilian’s goal celebration. Benfica, whose social media account went into overdrive, and the player, continue to deny the accusations.
Benfica’s coach, José Mourinho said he wanted to remain “independent” of casting judgment. Then he suggested Vinícius had incited the response, before effectively making the ridiculous claim Benfica can’t be racist because their finest ever player was Eusebio, who was Black. Mourinho’s intervention was unhelpful and ill-considered.
Vinícius’s refusal to shut up and dribble, a position with which Kylian Mbappé offered total solidarity, means Tuesday’s events in Lisbon cannot disappear into the ether. The modern game intersects with wider societal attitudes. Will Uefa treat the issue with deserved gravitas? That is not always guaranteed.
The return of the knockouts brought a pair of surprise results, though Bodø/Glimt downing a European giant barely registers as a shock these days. Inter’s players did not appreciate the freezing conditions in the far north of Norway and Bodø, who beat Manchester City and Atlético Madrid in the league phase this season, won 3-1.
Once again, the quality of Bodø’s football delighted. Not bad for a team out of season, with no domestic football until next month. After Pio Esposito’s equaliser, Jens Petter Hauge, one of the competition’s stars this season, lashed in a strike that was quickly followed by Kasper Høgh’s goal. Kjetil Knutsen, one of Europe’s most coveted coaches, has exacting standards. “We’re really effective, but I think it’s just a medium performance for us today,” he said.
A word, too, for Club Brugge, for whom star man Christos Tzolis scored an 89th-minute equaliser to secure a 3-3 home draw with Atlético. Brugge had been 2-0 down in the match. “The draw feels more like a victory,” said the Belgian club’s coach, Ivan Leko. “It gives us confidence. Atlético are still favourites, but we want to spring a surprise.”
One of last season’s breakout stars, Désiré Doué, came to the holders’ rescue, just when further domestic embarrassment loomed over Paris Saint-Germain. Lens lead Ligue 1 after PSG’s weekend loss to Rennes. Having been drawn with Monaco, Luis Enrique’s team were two goals down in the principality, both scored by Folarin Balogun. The USMNT striker had grabbed his first goals of 2026 by first capitalising on lax Parisian defending with an unmarked header before a fine strike for his second.
After Vitinha missed a penalty for the second time in this season’s competition, Doué, on as a substitute, scored within two minutes. The 20-year-old added PSG’s third to complete the comeback victory, either side of a strike from Achraf Hakimi, who has lately been struggling to shake off Morocco’s defeat in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
In France, speculation has swirled that Doué was one of the players Ousmane Dembélé appeared to accuse of “playing as individuals” in comments made over the weekend. “This past week, everyone has criticised and killed Doué,” Luis Enrique said. “He was sensational, he showed personality and character.” The coach’s pre-match comments had hinted he was less than happy with Dembélé’s intervention.
Player of the week
Four first-half goals as Newcastle ran riot at Qarabag, eventually winning 6-1, pushed Anthony Gordon into the record books as the club’s highest scorer in the competition, replacing Alan Shearer. Gordon is also second in this season’s Champions League scoring charts, with 10. “He could have had more,” said the Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe. Europe continues to offer Howe and his players welcome relief from domestic travails.
They said it
“Racists are above all cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have by their side the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish.” Vinícius’s social media post was followed by a Benfica club statement that read: “[Prestianni’s] conduct in the service of the club has always been guided by respect for opponents, institutions and the principles that define Benfica’s identity … the club regrets the defamation campaign of which the player has been a victim.”
The pundit’s chair
Juventus led 2-1 against Galatasaray before collapsing to a 5-2 defeat. That led Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero to lament that his club cannot sign a player of Victor Osimhen’s quality. The Nigerian, formerly of Napoli, ravaged Luciano Spalletti’s defence. “Juve are struggling to find players,” Del Piero said on Sky Italia. “Beyond Osimhen, who’s better than [Jonathan] David, or [Osimhen’s partner Mauro] Icardi, who’s better than Loïs Openda, beyond that truth, there’s the result on the pitch. Osimhen scares you, he’s ruthless in front of goal, he has quality.”
Looking ahead
Of the eight playoffs, all bar Qarabag’s visit to Newcastle have something in the balance in the second leg. Juventus are three goals down but an early lead in Turin may jangle Galatasaray’s nerves. Olympiakos, meanwhile, must overturn their 2-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
PSG are unbeaten at home in Ligue 1, making Monaco’s task difficult. For the Bodø/Glimt return, Inter’s record at San Siro is less solid, the Serie A leaders losing to both Arsenal and Liverpool in the group stage. Borussia Dortmund are in a commanding position, having beaten Atalanta 2-0 on Tuesday, with Serhou Guirassy continuing his scoring form.
Mourinho has recently been linked with coaching Real Madrid again. He will return there with Benfica on Wednesday, though under a heavy, self-inflicted cloud.
