Gianluca Pristiani’s Ban Shakes Benfica Ahead of Madrid Rematch

Suspension hits Benfica ahead of Madrid rematch

With Gianluca Pristiani’s ban continuing to ripple through Benfica and Vinicius Junior’s Real Madrid storyline, football drama remains relentless.

Benfica host Avalan in a crucial Portuguese Liga clash at Da Luz, with the Argentine forward sidelined.

According to AS, Pristiani faces a domestic ban that will keep him off the field against Avalan under Mourinho’s management.

The paper notes the forward picked up his fifth yellow card in Santa Clara, meaning a one-match suspension.

It was classic Pristiani: yellow for delaying his exit at the 90th minute as Mourinho called for the substitution, a move that cost him playing time against Avalan.

Benfica led Santa Clara 2-1, and the Argentine’s bid to drain the clock backfired when the referee flashed the card, excluding him from the Avalan match.

Therefore, Pristiani won’t play until the trip to the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday for the Champions League return leg.

Record reports the Argentine feels no pressure heading to Madrid, suggesting he doesn’t fear a hostile Bernabéu atmosphere and remains confident heading to the Spanish capital.

Punchline: If a yellow card were a sniper, Pristiani would be marooned on the bench—talk about a headshot to the rotation. And remember: in football, calendars lie, but calendars also make great excuses for a coffee break.