It had to be him. How could it be anyone else? The man who put up with all the abuse and barbs was there again, back where he should be, dancing by the corner flag.
Vinicius Jnr had celebrated in a similar way in Lisbon last week but his joy carried him into a storm of bigotry; it was a scandal that Jose Mourinho indicated the mess was all of the Brazilian’s making, it was a source of joy that Real Madrid’s poster boy should leave the club’s old manager stewing in bile.
We needed to see a happy conclusion, of sorts, to all the acrimony and such was the level of ire yesterday it seemed for long parts that the third meeting between Madrid and Benfica in less than a month was going to be about everything other than football.
This fixture was never going to be straightforward, not after the awful scenes in Estadio da Luz when Vinicius Jnr alleged he had been racially abused by the Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni, having scored a mesmerising goal.
Prestianni received a one-match suspension – unfair in his opinion – but he appealed to UEFA to have it overturned. For once, those in Nyon stood firm and upheld the ban, insisting the 20-year-old stay at the team hotel yesterday rather than travel to the Santiago Bernabeu.
‘Punch someone in the face openly; no punishment. Suspending someone with no proof. They don’t even try to hide it with Real Madrid anymore. What a disgrace.” Prestianni squawked on social media when learning his fate before hastily deleting his post.
Vinicius Jr had the final say as Real Madrid navigated their way past Benfica in the Champions League play-offs
Vinicius celebrated his late goal by dancing by the corner flag as Real won 3-1 on aggregate
But the football tonight felt inconsequential after Vinicius (left) accused Gianluca Prestianni (centre) of racist abuse during last week’s first leg in Lisbon
How preposterously pathetic. The irony of him making an accusation that something isn’t being hidden should not be lost on anyone, given he hoisted his shirt to cover his mouth before – according to Kylian Mbappe – referring to Vinicius as “a monkey” five times.
We can only hope, one day, the full truth will come out but what can be said with certainty is the incident deeply wounded Vinicius – and how bleak it has been to see him subjected to more abuse.
More than 4000 Benfica fans had travelled to Madrid, hoping for a result for the ages, but their initial intention was to lampoon Vinicius: the whistling of him started when he ran out to warm up then it arrived 64 seconds into the match and again 76 seconds later.
All the while, there was no sign of the Firestarter supreme. Mourinho, also serving a one-match ban for the red card he received in Lisbon, exercised his right not to take on media duties either before or after the match and what depressing, selfish approach that proved to be.
It’s probably akin to thinking you will one day find a Unicorn grazing in a meadow to expect a man like Mourinho to change in his 60s but has he not thought about the platform he has to speak with sense and clarity rather than the tired old act of his club and players being persecuted?
Emotions, as such, were always set to run high, with Mourinho returning to the Bernabeu for the first time in 13 years, but there was a nasty edge as local media had footage of Benfica fans clashing on the streets with Spanish police, who will never flinch if the chance to twirl a baton arrives.
All that had taken place before a ball had been kicked and the game, predictably, was suitably chaotic. Many still think Real can lift the Champions League but you would suggest those who do haven’t been watching closely because they are disorganised mess.
Much to their good fortune they have Vinicius and it was appropriate he should provide the flash of outstanding quality, when he streaked on to a pass and held off Nicolas Otamendi – who had been chuntering in his ear all night – before finishing calmly.
Tensions and emotions ran high throughout the night and things got violent outside the Bernabeu ahead of kick-off as Benfica fans clashed with Spanish riot police
Mourinho was nowhere to be seen after his inflammatory comments after last week’s first leg
Here was his 13th goal of the campaign, allowing him to dance and smile. But let’s not kid ourselves: the whole experience was a challenge and his frustrations, occasionally, looked like they might boil over, not least when he was elbowed in the face before half-time.
There is much to admire about Spanish football but the way authorities have enabled Vinicius to be abused so frequently by rival fans for such a long period is criminal and the men in charge – yes, you, Javier Tebas – have a duty to change in this depressing culture. Again, we shouldn’t hold our breath.
Happily, Vinicius did what Vinicius does best and his strike in the 80th minute made sure of Madrid’s progress after they had come from behind, Aurlien Tchouameni’s super drive – his first Champions League goal in Spain – coming 90 seconds after Rafa Silva’s shock early opener.
It took the wind from Benfica’s sails and settled Madrid’s nerves before Vinicius took charge. Let us hope he can keep on dancing.
