“Vinicius, Nobel Peace Prize,” a group of Valencians arriving at Mestalla during the massive demonstration against the club’s owner, Peter Lim, sarcastically said in the middle of the afternoon. There, two hours before the game and under a heavy police presence, thousands of fans were waiting for the teams. They were at the usual entrance, on Sweden Street, but the day had so much inflammation and tension after the racist insults to Vini last season (started when the Real Madrid fans arrived at the stadium), there were so many eyes on them around the world. what was happening, that the security device hampered almost everyone. He sent the Madrid coach through another door, about 200 meters away, along a completely closed road, the Joan Reglà.
2
Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Gayá, Cristhian Ibarguen, Mouctar Diakhaby (Cenk Özkacar, min. 89), Francisco Martinez (Peter Federico, min. 72), Sergi Canos (Hugo Guillamón, min. 57), Javi Guerra, Pepelu, Yaremchuk (Diego López, min. 57) and Hugo Duro
2
Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy (Fran Garcia, min. 72), Aurelien Tchouameni, Kroos (Modric, min. 63), Camavinga (Joselu, min. 72), Federico Valverde (Nacho, min. 85), Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo (Brahim Diaz, min. 63)
Goals 1-0 min. 27: Hugo Duro. 2-0 min. 30: Yaremchuk. 2-1 min. 50: Vinicius Junior. 2-2 min. 75: Vinicius Junior.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano
Yellow cards Yaremchuk (min. 3), Vinicius Junior (min. 71), Federico Valverde (min. 80) and Mouctar Diakhaby (min. 82)
red cards Jude Bellingham (min. 99)
There the Brazilian appeared, with white headphones that surely prevented him from hearing the chants against Madrid launched by the hundreds of people – and not thousands, like on Sweden Street – who were located behind the fences, about 150 meters away. At the entrance to the venue, some tried to enter with signs against the owner of Valencia with the addition of Vinicius characterized as “Pinochius”.
Vinicius and more Vinicius in a volcanic night from start to finish. From the Brazilian to Bellingham’s out-of-time goal after Gil Manzano’s whistle. “An unprecedented decision,” according to Ancelotti.
Until Diakhaby’s chilling injury and the final controversy, for almost the entire evening it was impossible for the event to separate itself from everything that was happening around the Brazilian. The atmosphere was raw due to the antecedents and his case became a raft of oil that turned Mestalla into a slippery slope, even for Madrid’s sporting fortunes for a long stretch. After the overwhelming tribute to the victims of the tragic fire in Valencia, the session rested until the final whistle on Vinicius, who jumped onto the field last after listening over the public address system. A kiss and a flower, by Nino Bravo. Everything that he did not expect on the trip to Mestalla.
They scolded Vini even when he didn’t touch her. As soon as it started, the ball reached Mendy on the left and a not inconsiderable sector of Mestalla also whistled. He thought it was Vinicius. There was no truce. “How stupid you are” and “how bad you are,” they sang to him. If he touched her, whistle. If he raised his arm, whistle. If she went to the bench to drink water, whistle. And he, faithful to his career, never shied away from the noise. Whoever thought that the winger had come with the intention of making everything happen as soon as possible, nothing could be further from it. Nor did his companions stop looking for him. It was a constant personal duel with everyone, pure combustion. Gestures and overexcitement.
He reminded the referee with his fingers that he had already been fouled twice in less than 10 minutes, he got into a fight with Gayà and Pepelu was rolling on the grass due to a brush with him while Christian Mosquera ran up to him to ask him to calm down. Vini and more Vini, also in the photo of Valencia’s 1-0. He went to try to resolve a mistake by Valverde, but lost it on the baseline against Foulquier, in an orthopedic area for him, and Hugo Duro punished the whites. Until 2-1, he won the most desired image. After facing the cheering stands (with which he had problems last year) as soon as he scored the goal, he raised his right arm with a clenched fist, as if to black power, looking with full intention at that area of the field, enjoying the gesture. A detail that was not minor for him in a scenario marked by fire in his career. “The fight continues,” he later wrote on his social networks.
A personal revenge that culminated in the other end facing the stands in the celebration of 2-2, now without his fist raised, more defiant with the cobblestone with both hands over his ears due to the tension of the staff. Named MVP, his night ended with two shots on goal and two goals in his 250th game with Madrid. He has not scored more against any rival in the League: eight in 10 matches. “It was decisive for us,” said Ancelotti, who only commented on his sporting work and avoided entering into the environmental issue (he was also heavily whistled when the public address system announced his name). “He was more effective inside the area than outside, because Foulquier played an outstanding game,” analyzed the coach. Before the final controversy consumed the entire match, the night passed in the permanent agitation of Vinicius and for Vinicius.
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