Benfica president Rui Costa has labelled UEFA’s decision to ban Gianluca Prestianni for tomorrow night’s clash with Real Madrid as “unjust”.

UEFA announced yesterday the Argentine was provisionally suspended for one game pending a deeper investigation in to allegations he racially abused Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during the first leg of the Champions League play-off last week.

Prestianni has maintained his innocence throughout – prompting Benfica to appeal the decision yesterday – and Costa feels the ruling is unfair.

Speaking at the airport prior to the flight to Spain for the return game, the former Portugal midfielder said: “We have this case in the middle [of the game] and we are unable to use Prestianni. We understand that nothing is proven and the absence of the player in this game is unjust.

“I’m not on the field to know what was said or not said. In such a situation, a lot is said. What we believe is in the word of our player; more than that, it is knowing the players we have. Prestianni is being classified as racist, but he is anything but racist. I can guarantee it. 

“I speak a week after the incident and it’s easy to explain. We informed our fans of all the procedures, we defended the player when we had to defend him and it did not justify the president speaking every day. 

“The real sanction hasn’t come out yet, there’s a suspension, but it was no use talking every day about a topic that is in process. We waited for the process.”

Benfica furious that Madrid’s Valverde was not punished for Dahl clash

Costa also highlighted Benfica’s frustration that Madrid’s Federico Valverde had not been sanctioned by UEFA for what they deem to be a punch thrown towards Samuel Dahl during a tempestuous first leg in Lisbon.

Benfica escalated the matter to UEFA’s Disciplinary Committee in the hope of retroactive action being taken but the Uruguay midfielder was cleared and will likely play tomorrow night.

Costa said: “One thing does not eliminate the other and we do not want to use the other case to annul the Prestianni situation, but we cannot forget what happened in the home game. There is a clear aggression from Valverde, who should be out of this game.”

Benfica’s belief is ‘unshakeable’

Vinicius Jr scored the only goal at the Estadio Da Luz, handing Madrid a potentially vital advantage ahead of the return at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But Costa was quick to highlight the fact Benfica had beaten Madrid already this season – 4-2 in the final game of the league phase – and says belief in the camp was “unshakable”.

“There is no need to point out the degree of difficulty that this game has,” he said. “Reversing the result at the Bernabéu is of a very high degree of difficulty, but ambition and belief are unshakable. 

“We’ve already tasted it this year. Let’s play this game with all our weapons, hoping to be able to do our job.”

Benfica won’t have coach Jose Mourinho in the dug out tomorrow. The former Madrid boss was sent off last week and will serve a one-game suspension.