LISBON, Feb 18 — Match-winner Vinicius Junior hit out at “cowards” after accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory in Lisbon on Tuesday.

The game was stopped for more than 10 minutes due to a racism protocol after Vinicius complained to French referee Francois Letexier about the alleged abuse following a confrontation between him and Prestianni.