Ancelotti announces protest
©IMAGO
Real Madrid won the catch-up game at FC Valencia dramatically in the final phase – but will have to make do without Vinicius Junior for now. The Brazilian was shown a red card in the 79th minute when the score was 0-1 for a push into the neck of opposing goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. The Royals turned the game around to make it 2-1.
Hugo Duro scored the goal for the home team in the 27th minute. After Luka Modric made it 1-1 (85′), Jude Bellingham secured Real’s late victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The former Dortmund player missed Madrid’s possible earlier equalizer by missing a penalty kick (55′). After the final whistle, Vinicius Junior spoke up on X: “Sorry and thank you team.”
The Spanish league leaders are now facing a longer ban for the attacker, who had to be restrained by Antonio Rüdiger after being sent off. However, coach Carlo Ancelotti announced a protest: “We will appeal. I don’t know if they accept it. We believe it wasn’t a red card.” He pointed out that Dimitrievski had previously provoked Vinicius Junior and tugged on his jersey. “With two yellow cards the matter would have been settled,” said Ancelotti. He doesn’t want to say that Vinicius Junior fell into the trap. His player “suffered”.
The game was originally supposed to take place at the beginning of November, but due to a storm in the Valencia region it was canceled and has now been rescheduled. Real will next face fourth division club CD Minera in the third round of the cup. Then there is the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia; There we will first play in the semi-finals against RCD Mallorca.