Arouca player's gesture delighting Benfica fans | OneFootball

Gianluca Prestianni once again felt the affection of Benfica fans after the 2-1 victory over Arouca, in a symbolic moment that could strengthen his relationship with the stands. The Argentine winger had lost influence in his game since the controversial episode during the match against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, when he was accused of racism by Vinícius Júnior.

Since then, Prestianni started against Gil Vicente and Porto, but was substituted in both matches without managing to score or assist. In Arouca, he began on the bench but came on in the 73rd minute as part of an attacking move by José Mourinho, along with Amar Dedić, Franjo Ivanović, and Georgiy Sudakov – a millionaire bench. It was from the Argentine’s feet that the cross came which resulted in Ivanovic’s decisive goal.

After the match, the young Argentine winger ran towards the stands and literally threw himself into the arms of the Benfica fans, being embraced by those present. The image, shared by the player himself on social media, became a symbol of a special moment experienced in Arouca.

After the Clássico last week against Porto, the Clube da Luz has renewed hope in the title race, gaining the opportunity to close the gap. With 26 rounds of Liga Portugal Betclic completed, Benfica sits in third place, with 62 points, the same as Sporting.

This season, playing for Benfica, Gianluca Prestianni — valued at 12 million euros — has already played a total of 33 matches: 21 in Liga Portugal Betclic, seven in the Champions League, two in the Portuguese Cup, two in the League Cup, and one in the Super Cup. In the 1,611 minutes he has spent on the pitch, the winger has recorded two goals and two assists.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.