19/02/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | FEB 19, 2026

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Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt told reporters a 2-0 lead was “still dangerous” ahead of the second leg in Bergamo but praised his side’s focus despite the pre-match setbacks. “A lot is working for us now. Even in difficult situations, we’re managing it. “We were able to convert the stress into energy when we started. It sharpened us up a bit today, but it shouldn’t become the norm,” Brandt said of the late arrival. Atalanta arrived on time but Ketelaere’s attacking spark. The winners of the tie will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16, the teams who finished first and second respectively in the league phase. Despite a run of six straight Bundesliga victo ries, Dortmund were hit with a defen Guirassy guides Dortmund past Atalanta

SERHOU GUIRASSY scored a goal and laid on another as Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 at home yesterday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff tie. Despite a late arrival delaying kickoff and just one recognised centreback, Dortmund controlled the match from start to finish. The in-form Guirassy headed Dortmund in front early and then set up Maximilian Beier’s goal late in the first half to give the Germans the advantage ahead of next week’s return leg in Italy. “It was a perfect start but a weird evening,” Guirassy told Amazon Prime . “We were in traffic for an hour and 15 minutes and only had 10 minutes to get ready and get on the pitch after we arrived, so it was nice of course to get the header after three minutes.”

sive crisis, with Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Suele, Emre Can and Filippo Mane all out injured. Coach Niko Kovac handed 18-year-old Luca Reggiani a first senior start alongside Germany defender Waldemar Anton, Dortmund’s last centre back standing. The hosts’ preparation was further hampered by a delayed arrival at the stadium, with kick-off pushed back by 15 minutes. Bursting back into form after a long dry spell with five goals in three games, Guirassy wasted no time continuing his streak. With three minutes gone, the Guinean nodded in a Julian Ryerson cross to give Dortmund the lead on three minutes. Dortmund doubled their lead just before the break when Guirassy delivered an expert pass across the face of goal for Beier to tap home. The hosts were content to control proceedings with their two-goal lead, with few chances for either side in the second half. – AFP

were out on their feet in defence and disjointed in attack, missing injured midfielder Charles De

Jose Mourinho (left) clashes with Vinicius Junior during the Champions League match between Real and Benfica at Estadio da Luz yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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Draw Date: 18/02/26 (Wed)

Draw No: 6040/26 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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Mourinho believes Vinicius Jr ‘incited’ Benfica players before racism row

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Ű BY MICHAEL JONES

arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was black. “This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica. “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays (in) something happens. Always. “I’m saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal absolutely crazy goal and then game over.” Amazon Prime pundits Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott seemed stunned by Mourinho’s comments with Rooney labelling them “unfair” and Seedorf saying Mourinho made a “big mistake”. “As he said he’s trying to stay independent but I think it was very unfair what he said about Vinicius,” Rooney said. Seedorf further explained by adding: “I think he’s (Mourinho) is still emotional. I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today. “He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s okay when Vinicius provokes you, that is it okay to be racist and I think that is very wrong. “We should never, ever justify racial abuse. And Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. “And I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately I believe. “Because we should not be telling the people at home that someone makes a dance or something then it’s okay to be racist.” Theo Walcott plainly finished: “That’s the one time we shouldn’t have heard from him (Mourinho), tonight he should not have been in front of the cameras.” – The Independent

J OSE MOURINHO says he believes Vinicius Jr’s goal celebration was an inciting incident for the scenes that fol lowed during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League play off first leg. Vinicius had sent Real into the lead with a superb strike in the early stages of the second half before dancing by the corner flag in front of the home supporters. Before the match resumed Vinicius exchanged words with Benfica’s Ginaluca Prestianni and reported the player to the referee over an alleged racist remark. The match was then paused for 11 min utes with Mourinho being seen talking to Real players, including Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, as tensions rose in the stadium. Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, the Benfica boss made his thoughts on the matter clear saying: “It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game, these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he (Vinicius) was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way.” Mourinho was asked if Vinicius had “incited” the Benfica players and the crowd with his celebration and he responded: “Yeah, I believe so. “The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don’t comment about it.” The Portuguese manager then revealed his own talks with Vinicius and explained what he had told the winger during the pause in play. “I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back,” Mourinho added. “And then when he was

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