Former Real Madrid and Benfica forward shares his view on Vinicius-Prestianni row: ‘Difficult to analyse from outside’

Few players understand both sides of this European rivalry like Javier Saviola. 

The former forward is one of the rare names to have worn the shirts of Spanish football’s two giants and still receive respect at both the Santiago Bernabeu and Camp Nou. 

Add to that his successful spell at Benfica, where he remains popular among supporters at the Estadio da Luz, and it is clear why his voice carries authority ahead of the decisive UEFA Champions League play-off second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica.

Reflecting on the contrast between the two recent meetings, Saviola highlighted how dramatically the dynamic shifted.

When asked what changed from the first clash to the one played a week ago, he explained, 

“In the first match, Benfica lost their fear, stood up to their opponents, pushed them back, and created a lot of danger in a great game. 

“In the second match, it was as if the first one had never happened because it was completely different. 

“Madrid regained the initiative, was solid defensively, recovered the ball quickly, and Benfica couldn’t get into the game,” he analysed.

Praise for Federico Valverde

Saviola believes the tactical control shown by Madrid in the second encounter made all the difference, especially in midfield. 

Speaking about Federico Valverde’s positioning, he made his preference clear – “I like him much better there. 

“He performs well as a full-back because he has a lot of stamina, but his team appreciates him when he plays in midfield because he gets forward and also helps in defence as he is physically strong and has unusual stamina.”

The elephant in the room

The former striker also addressed the controversy involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr., a topic that has dominated headlines. 

Real Madrid need to win this tie to go through. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and its impact on football. 

“It’s all anyone is talking about. Unfortunately, it affects football because young kids see it. FIFA and UEFA are very involved in eradicating racism. 

“A lot of work has been done, and this episode tarnished Madrid’s victory and an exciting game. 

“It’s one person’s word against another’s, and it’s difficult to analyse from the outside, but if it’s true that there was an act of racism, then a heavy hand must be applied.”

Expectations from the match

Looking ahead to the second leg at the Bernabéu, Saviola stressed that Benfica cannot afford to retreat. 

“Madrid learned their lesson from the first leg, and Benfica has realized that the way to face them is as they did then. 

“Giving Madrid the initiative will mean losing the match. Falling back and speculating is not a good idea.

“From Madrid’s side, it’s clear that if they repeat what they did in the last encounter, they will have a better chance.”

When pressed for a prediction, he did not hesitate. “Looking at previous matches, I think there will be quite a few goals, so I’ll say 2-2 at the Bernabeu. 

“Madrid will go through,” he noted.

Source: AS