Real Madrid has secured a spot in the Champions League last 16 with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica, according to a report by the BBC.
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni described the win as a "victory for everyone who stands against racism" following allegations of racial abuse against teammate Vinicius Jr by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni in the first leg.
Prestianni, who denied the allegations, was handed a one-match ban and missed the return leg, during which Vinicius Jr scored Real Madrid's second goal in a 2-1 win.
Match Details
Vinicius Jr's goal came after Tchouameni scored Real's first-half equalizer, and the team came from 1-0 down to win the match.
Tchouameni said, "I think there are more important things than this match, than football," and expressed support for Vinicius Jr, stating that the decision to ban Prestianni was correct.
Player Reactions
Real Madrid and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold praised Vinicius Jr, saying he was "very chilled" and "very relaxed" before the fixture and didn't need to prove anything to anyone.
Vinicius Jr celebrated his goal with a dance, which he also performed in the first leg, and later posted on social media that "the dance goes on".
Manager's Reaction
Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa reacted with joy to Vinicius Jr's goal, saying he deserved it, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois added that he was happy to see Vinicius Jr scoring and dancing.
The match also marked 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 due to suspension.
Injury Update
However, the win was marred by an injury to Kylian Mbappe, who missed the game with a knee problem and is set for some time out, according to Arbeloa.
