A Champions League night with lights and too many shadows
Again. Just when Vinícius Júnior had just scored a great goal for Madrid against Benfica, the joy took a turn. The Brazilian denounced racist insults, the game was stopped and football once again looked in the mirror with shame.
“He’s been subjected to this a few times… for it to continue is a shame for football,”
said Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the rage we should all feel. Mourinho, from the rival bench, admitted that “there is something wrong because it happens in all stadiums.”
While that was happening in Lisbon, a pure sporting battle was being fought on another field. Defending champions PSG were on the ropes: 2-0 down in Monaco after just 18 minutes. It seemed that the defense of the title was slipping through their fingers.
The unexpected hero who saved the giant
Désiré Doué came on from the bench and in two minutes everything changed. First he closed the gap, then his shot rebounded for Hakimi’s equalizer. When Monaco was one less, Doué scored the winning goal. Pure effectiveness.
“The way I played was not the most important thing. The most important thing is the victory. It’s my job to help the team,”
said the young Frenchman with a humility that speaks louder than a thousand speeches.
But if there was a comeback to frame, it was that of Galatasaray. Down 2-1 against Juventus at half-time, the Turks came out transformed in the second half. Noa Lang scored two of the four goals that sank a Juve that now looks elimination in the eyes.
Borussia Dortmund did their thing too: 2-0 against Atalanta which leaves them in a very good position. But that sporting victory is clouded by what happened in Portugal.
Because at the end of the day, no results matter if we continue to fail at the basics: respect. Vinícius sat alone on the bench after his complaint. That’s what we should be left with tonight. Not the goals, but that image.
