Category Sports News

Real Madrid’s win against Benfica to reach the Champions League last 16 was a “victory for everyone who stands against racism”, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni says.

Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg, in which the Real forward scored the game’s only goal.

Prestianni – who has denied racially abusing the Brazilian – was subsequently handed a one-match ban, meaning he missed Wednesday’s return leg.

Support was shown for Vinicius by the home fans as a banner with the words “no to racism” in Spanish was displayed in the stands before kick-off.

Vinicius was again on the scoresheet, netting Real Madrid’s second goal as the Spanish side came from 1-0 down on the night to win 2-1 and book their place in the next round with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

“I think there are more important things than this match, than football,” said Tchouameni, who scored Real’s first-half equaliser.

“Vinicius keeps his confidence and he keeps focused on what he needs to do.

“I think they made the right decision by not letting the boy [Prestianni] play this match.

“Like I said, there are things more important than football and this is a victory for all of us.”

Real Madrid and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said Vinicius had been his usual self before the fixture, “very chilled” and “very relaxed”.

“He didn’t need to score to send a message or show his mentality,” said the former Liverpool player.

“He doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone because he’s shown time and time again how good he is.

Vinicius Jr celebrated his goal in the first leg by dancing near the corner flag – and he produced the same celebration on Wednesday after his 80th-minute strike gave Real breathing space in the tie.

The Brazilian posted on social media after the match that “the dance goes on”.

“He was brilliant over both legs,” former Chelsea forward Joe Cole said on TNT Sports. “His finish was superb.”

Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa said: “[I reacted] with joy obviously, for the great goal he scored, and because it was him, he deserves it.”

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois added: “I’m happy that Vini’s dancing, still dancing, because it means he’s scoring goals.”

The game featured Jose Mourinho’s first return to the home of Real Madrid since he managed them between 2010-13, although he was unable to sit in the dugout because of suspension.

On a night of celebration for Real Madrid, the one negative was that Kylian Mbappe missed the game through injury and is set for some time out with a knee problem.

“After yesterday’s session, we talked with the doctors, I spoke with him, and we felt the best thing was for him to stop, to recover 100%, and to come back in top shape, confident and without any discomfort for everything that’s coming, which is obviously very important,” said Arbeloa.

Mohamed Salah would be happy to stay at Liverpool until 2027, there are six Premier League clubs interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins, while Casemiro wants to keep playing in Europe.

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 33, is happy to see out the remainder of his Liverpool contract, which runs up to the end of next season, should a move to the Saudi Pro League not materialise this summer. (Football Insider)

Eintracht Frankfurt’s 22-year-old Germany defender Nnamdi Collins is the subject of interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford. (Teamtalk)

Manchester United‘s Brazil midfielder Casemiro, 34, wants to continue his career in Europe when his contract ends at Old Trafford in the summer, and Italy is a possible next destination. (Sun)

German agent Volker Struth, who has worked with Florian Wirtz in the past, says he offered the Germany midfielder to Real Madrid last summer before his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool. (Phrasenmaher via Mirror)

Manchester United plan to sell Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, 29, this summer, but expect to receive significantly less than the £50m they paid Inter Milan to sign him in 2023. (Talksport)

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are closely monitoring the development of Ajax’s 18-year-old Dutch midfielder Sean Steur. (Teamtalk)

Sunderland‘s hopes of signing Algerian midfielder Yacine Titraoui from Belgian side Charleroi have received a boost as the 22-year-old’s representatives are reluctant to sanction a move to Premier League rivals Wolves because of the likelihood of the club being relegated. (Sunderland Echo)

Manchester United are yet to formally reopen contract talks with England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20. (Sun)

Major League Soccer side Orlando City have offered Antoine Griezmann a three-year deal – the 34-year-old France forward will hold talks with current club Atletico Madrid before deciding whether to accept. (Fabrizio Romano)

Victor Osimhen’s value has doubled since the 27-year-old Nigeria striker’s 75m euro (£65.4m) transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray, according to the Super Lig leader’s vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu. (Goal)

When last year’s Champions League finalists Inter Milan were knocked out by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, it seemed as if Italian football was on the brink of making unwanted history.

With Atalanta trailing by two goals and Juventus three down after their first-leg ties, there was a real possibility of a Champions League last 16 without any Italian clubs for the first time since 1987-88, when the competition was still the European Cup.

But, while Juventus ultimately came up short despite an impressive fightback against Galatasaray, Atalanta have become the somewhat unlikely saviours of Italian football in the Champions League.

Trailing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund from the first leg of their knockout phase play-off tie, they scored three goals in 57 minutes – before converting a dramatic last-second penalty after Karim Adeyemi’s goal had looked to have forced extra time.

“Everyone had written us off,” said Atalanta defender Davide Zappacosta.

Since the reintroduction of the last-16 knockout round to Europe’s showpiece competition in 2003-04, there has always been at least one Italian representative.

Not since 1987-88, when Napoli went out in the first round of the European Cup to Real Madrid, has Serie A had no teams in the last 16 of the competition – or first knockout round when it took other formats.

After Inter’s exit on Tuesday, many Italian football experts were labelling it a disaster for the sport in their country.

“It is a piece of history,” said journalist Vincenzo Credendino. “Speaking about Italy and Inter, this is one of the worst pieces.”

Another Italian football journalist, Daniele Verri, said all three sides failing to make the knockouts would have been a “complete debacle, a disaster for our clubs”.

Atalanta’s progress – and the manner in which they battled through – at least provides hope, although it doesn’t get easier for them in the last 16, with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting.

But against Dortmund, they showed the kind of self-belief that will stand them in good stead against either the Premier League or Bundesliga leaders.

“Now Atalanta are the darlings of Italian football,” former West Brom and Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

European football expert James Horncastle added: “They’re sort of Serie A’s Bodo/Glimt in many respects.

“They were a yo-yo club until about eight years ago and we’ve not only seen them win a European trophy and reach three Coppa Italia finals but really establish themselves in the Champions League.”

While Inter and Juventus have a rich and successful history in Europe’s premier club competition – they have won five European Cups/Champions League titles between them – Atalanta are relative minnows by comparison.

They first played in the competition in 2019 and have reached the last 16 twice before, with their best run being to the quarter-finals on their debut.

They did win the Europa League in 2024 but in their past two Champions League appearances, have failed to make the knockouts.

The Italians had never before overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit, underlining the difficulty of the task they faced against Dortmund.

But the showed great spirit and desire, even after the disappointment of Adeyemi’s goal leveling up the tie after Atalanta had worked so hard to go from 2-0 down to 3-2 up on aggregate.

“It’s an unforgettable night, a dream come true,” Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino said.

“We put everything into this performance: heart, soul, spirit and courage. We played an Atalanta-style match, and that’s why we’re so happy with what we achieved.”

Atalanta captain Marten de Roon added: “We knew we had to play the perfect match and we did.