Thursday’s briefing: Vinicius helps Real progress as Snoop Dogg sees future

Vinicius Junior was in the headlines again to take Real Madrid into the last 16 of the Champions League.

Manchester United’s latest financial results were out and Swansea minority owner Snoop Dogg was shown to have had the magic touch on his first visit to the Welsh club.

Real Madrid fans show support for Vinicius Junior with anti-racism banners

Real Madrid fans displayed anti-racism messages before kick-off in support of Vinicius Junior.

The second leg of the controversial last-16 Champions League tie came just eight days after the first leg in Lisbon, which was overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse.

Vinicius alleged he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni – something the Benfica player denied – but there was a big ‘No to Racism’ banner at the Santiago Bernabeu and fans also held placards in support of the Brazilian.

Prestianni had been suspended for the Madrid return by UEFA, but there was no stopping Vinicius taking centre stage again.

With the game delicately poised at 1-1 – and 2-1 to Real on aggregate – Vinicius broke clear for a confident finish and a celebratory dance at the corner flag – just as he had done in Lisbon.

Man Utd post profit but debt rises to £1.3billion

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada said the club are reaping the “positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation” as profits rise – even though the club’s debt is now approaching £1.3billion.

United’s latest financial figures showed the club generated an operating profit of £32.6million in the first six months of the fiscal year, compared with a £3.9m loss for the same period last year, despite the men’s team being without European football this season.

The operating profit for the most recent quarter was £19.6m, compared to £3.1m in the same period last year.

However, United also drew down an additional £25m on their rolling credit facility, which now stands at £295.7m.

In addition to the outstanding debt linked to the Glazer family’s leveraged takeover, and more than £500m worth of other listed liabilities, the club’s debts stood at £1.29billion at the end of last year.

Berrada said: “We are now seeing the positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation materialise both in our costs and profitability. We continue to take a football-first approach and invest in both our men’s and women’s first teams.”

Infantino has ‘total confidence’ in Mexico staging World Cup matches

FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared his “total confidence” in Mexico safely staging World Cup finals and play-off matches despite an outbreak of violence close to one of the host cities.

A drug cartel has unleashed a campaign of violence in Jalisco state in response to the killing of one of its leaders last week.

Guadalajara, which will host four games at the finals as well as two World Cup play-off matches next month, is the state capital.

However, Infantino has given his complete backing to Mexico to host the matches safely and securely.

Infantino told reporters on a visit to Colombia: “Of course we are monitoring the situation in Mexico right now, but I want to say from the outset that we have total confidence in Mexico, in President Claudia Sheinbaum, in the authorities, and we are convinced that everything will turn out in the best possible way.”

Swansea co-owner Snoop Dogg knows the score

Snoop Dogg proved to have the magic touch after correctly predicting that Liam Cullen would score during his first visit to Swansea.

The 54-year-old American rapper, who owns a minority stake in the Sky Bet Championship club, was at the Swansea.com Stadium for Tuesday’s clash with Preston to see Cullen snatch a 1-1 draw with a stoppage-time equaliser.

Footage posted by the Swans on their official X account on Wednesday shows the musician rubbing Cullen’s number 20 shirt in the dressing room before the game and saying “He’s going to get a goal Tuesday”, and then him telling the player the tale after the game.

Snoop Dogg, who had earlier posed with a personalised No. 20 shirt he had pressed himself, says: “I walked out of here, I saw your number – because that’s the number I wear, 2-0 – and I rubbed your jersey and I said, ‘You’re gonna score’.”

What’s on today?

Nottingham Forest and Celtic face contrasting scenarios in their Europa League play-off round ties.

Forest host Fenerbahce at the City Ground with a healthy advantage after winning 3-0 in Turkey last week.

Celtic must overcome a 4-1 deficit against Stuttgart in Germany if they are to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Crystal Palace resume their Conference League play-off round tie against Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar at Selhurst Park, with the score level at 1-1.