Will Gianluca Prestianni play tonight for Benfica vs Real Madrid in Champions League 2025-26 playoffs second leg?

The Argentine is yet to score a goal in the UCL this season.

Benfica are down by a goal going into the second leg of the knockout round playoffs. Real Madrid outplayed them despite being away from home. This upcoming contest is going to be an intense outing between these sides.

The Eagles will be under pressure at the Santiago Bernabeu and with Jose Mourinho suspended, it is going to make the situation tougher for them. They have outplayed Los Blancos during the league phase of the UEFA Champions League and will be looking to put up a similar show this time around as well.

Gianluca Prestianni is one of the main men in the attacking front for SL Benfica, but is not on the best run of form at the moment. He mostly works on the right flanks, from where he creates plays and scores goals for his side. The 20-year-old has recently been a part of a controversy, which also involved Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

Also Read: Preview: Real Madrid vs Benfica Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds

Will Gianluca Prestianni play tonight vs Real Madrid?

The Los Blancos star, Vini Jr., alleged that Prestianni made a racist remark. The incident likely took place after the Brazilian forward scored for Real Madrid in the 50th minute and celebrated the goal near Benfica’s corner flag. Many of the players, including the 20-year-old Argentine star, were unhappy.

This led to an 11-minute stoppage during the game. As per Kylian Mbappe, he also heard the abuse. The ongoing controversy is sure to take a heavy toll on the mental strength of the players from both clubs.

Now, UEFA has suspended Gianluca Prestianni for the second leg against Real Madrid. The investigation is still ongoing and Gianluca Prestianni could face a 10-game ban if found guilty of racial abuse under UEFA’s disciplinary code.

This ban for a 20-year-old forward can raise concerns for Benfica in the attacking front and they must be ready with an alternative. The 28-year-old Belgian forward Dodi Lukebakio is most likely to be included in the playing XI.

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