Fede Valverde violent conduct case ‘dismissed’, Real Madrid boosted for Benfica | OneFootball

Real Madrid expect to have Fede Valverde available for their Champions League meeting with Benfica after UEFA ‘dismissed’ a violent conduct case lodged by the Portuguese club, Marca reports.

The midfielder was not punished during the first leg of the play-off after he appeared to swing a fist at left-back Samuel Dahl while being impeded on the right flank.

Benfica later reported him for violent conduct and, after the decision, the club criticised the outcome, insisting broadcast images showed clear aggression and that it should have been a red card.

Tensions between the clubs have also been heightened by the temporary suspension of Gianluca Prestianni over alleged racist abuse towards Vinicius Junior. Benfica have appealed and are unlikely to receive a verdict before the game.

“We’re talking about two different cases. We don’t want to use other incidents from the match to invalidate Prestianni’s situation, but there was a clear act of aggression by Valverde. I wasn’t on the pitch to know what was said or not. We believe our player. We know the players we have at home. Prestianni is anything but racist,” he told Diario AS.

Valverde is likely to play on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu, although there is some doubt about his fitness. Alvaro Arbeloa withdrew him for the closing stages of Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Osasuna, explaining that he has been playing through pain for some time.

Source: Football Espana