Benfica suspends fans for racism against Vinícius; Italian clubs learn their opponents

Portuguese club Benfica Lisbon has taken decisive disciplinary action, suspending five fans in connection with racist incidents alleged to have occurred during the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 match against Real Madrid. The victim of offensive gestures and slurs was the Brazilian forward of the 'Royal Club', Vinícius Júnior. Initial press reports suggested that Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni was also involved in the matter, but the club has firmly denied these accusations. Solidarity with his compatriot was shown by Neymar, who celebrated a goal in Vinícius's style, while the media emphasize that Benfica faces severe sanctions from UEFA for a lack of proper control over fan behavior. The practice of clubs suspending fans is one of the oldest tools for combating hooliganism, with roots dating back to the 1970s, when British and European federations began systematically fighting aggression in stadiums. Simultaneously, in the European cups, crucial decisions are being made for Italian football. Serie A faces the challenge of maintaining a high position in the UEFA ranking, which could result in Italy being granted a fifth spot in the future edition of the Champions League. However, the draw for the knockout rounds proved particularly unfortunate. Atalanta Bergamo drew Bayern Munich, which coach Gian Piero Gasperini described as one of the toughest tasks. In the Europa League, a 'derby' will take place between Bologna and AS Roma. The directors of both clubs, Marco Di Vaio and Frederic Massara, expressed disappointment at having to eliminate one of the Italian teams at such an early stage. The squads are under significant pressure ahead of upcoming league and cup matches. Robin Gosens suffered a double, yet stable, facial fracture, which will require him to play with a special protective mask. Meanwhile, AS Roma is dealing with injury returns – key player Paulo Dybala has resumed group training and hopes to feature in the high-profile clash with Juventus. The medical situation at Real Madrid is also not ideal, as Raúl Asencio is struggling with a neck muscle strain, casting doubt on his availability for upcoming matches. „Avremmo evitato volentieri la Roma” (We would have gladly avoided Roma) — Marco Di Vaio From an international perspective, attention is focused on the stability of Portuguese football in the face of scandals and on the physical condition of national team leaders ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Statements from Juventus representatives, including Pierre Kalulu, indicate full concentration ahead of the league clash with Roma, which for both teams will serve as a dress rehearsal for form before returning to continental competition.