The day before Real Madrid x Benfica, the second leg of the playoff to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League, was dominated more by words than by tactics. The two press conferences became an extension of the Luz game: the case involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior returned to the center of the discussion.
Without José Mourinho – suspended after expulsion on the way – It was assistant João Tralhão speaking for Benfica. The coach began by framing the match as decisive: “It’s a final and the team’s focus is total.”
Tralhão assumed that the absence of the head coach changes the scenario, but not the preparation: “Obviously it is different, considering that our leader José Mourinho will not be on the bench. We, as a staff, prepared all the scenarios to be at our level.”
The red team arrives in Madrid at a disadvantage, but convinced that the tie remains open. The deputy highlighted that the preparation was carried out normally and that the group is focused only on the game, avoiding deepening the disciplinary controversy. When asked about Prestianni, he chose not to discuss the topic due to the ongoing process.
On the Spanish side, the approach was opposite. Alvaro Arbeloa spoke at length about the episode that occurred in Lisbon and put it in a broader dimension. “We are facing a great opportunity to mark a before and after in the fight against racism.”
The Real Madrid coach called for concrete action from European football authorities: “Uefa has the opportunity to not just leave this to a slogan.” Despite insisting on the case, he also addressed the game itself: “I expect a Real Madrid team very similar to the one we saw in Lisbon. We think about winning the game and going through to the tie.”
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