New provocation? Prestianni trains at the Bernabéu despite his ban

Madrid – The Santiago Bernabéu, normally a fortress reserved for Real Madrid, became the unlikely backdrop for a fresh flashpoint on Wednesday when Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni took to the pitch for training despite being barred from the Champions League second-leg tie against the Spanish giants.

Prestianni is serving a UEFA suspension after Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior accused the Argentine of racist remarks during the first leg in Lisbon. The ban keeps him out of Thursday’s decisive encounter, yet Benfica have kept the 19-year-old with the travelling squad and opted to conduct his normal workout on the very turf where he is forbidden to compete.

Club president Rui Costa addressed the media inside the stadium, delivering an unequivocal defence of his player. “They call Prestianni a racist, but he is not at all. I assure you,” Costa said. “We know Gianluca’s daily behaviour and we trust his word completely.”

Benfica’s stance is deliberate: retaining Prestianni in the official expedition is intended as a public show of institutional backing while European football’s governing body continues its investigation. The Portuguese champions insist they have “absolute certainty” about what transpired on the pitch and are prepared to stand by their academy graduate.

Training at the Bernabéu under heavy security, Prestianni ran through drills under the gaze of club staff and a smattering of cameras, turning a routine session into a scene of political and sporting tension. With the controversy already spilling beyond football circles, UEFA observers were present to monitor any further developments.

Kick-off on Thursday will proceed without Prestianni, but his presence in Madrid ensures the matter remains centre-stage as both clubs await the final conclusions of the disciplinary process.