Vinicius Junior, the star of Real Madrid, has once again stirred controversy during his team’s visit to Vallecas stadium, the home of Rayo Vallecano.
Vinicius was the focus of many controversial moments during yesterday’s match, both with Rayo Vallecano fans and with some of the opposing team’s players, on the field and in the locker room.
It has become customary for skirmishes to occur between Vinicius and Rayo Vallecano fans on every visit to Vallecas.
Cameras from the “Movistar +” channel captured the events, which were not limited to the fans only, but also affected some of the opposing team’s players, such as Álvaro García.
According to the “Mundo Deportivo” newspaper, the Brazilian player was greeted with boos from the start, and every time he touched the ball. He tried to remain calm, but the intense tension sometimes overwhelmed him, prompting him to take controversial actions.
At one point, Vinicius approached one side of the field after hearing insults from the fans, then walked away laughing, repeating the phrase “They paid to see me” several times, which sparked widespread controversy among followers.
The controversial actions were not limited to the field, as “Movistar +” channel published a video showing him returning to the locker room at halftime, where Vinicius directed a strong expression to Rayo Vallecano player Álvaro García, describing him as “very bad.”
These events reaffirmed that Vinicius’ visits to Vallecas are always accompanied by moments of tension and controversy, whether with fans or with rivals, making his visits to this stadium always fertile ground for the Spanish newspapers and football fans.
Match scenario
The match started at a fast pace, and Real Madrid almost opened the scoring in the 3rd minute when Arda Güler fired a powerful shot with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area, but goalkeeper Batalla brilliantly saved it to prevent the royal team from an early goal.
Just one minute later, De Frutos tried to respond with a dangerous run from midfield, during which he bypassed two Real Madrid players, but the ball went too far for him, allowing Asensio to intercept it in time.
In the 5th minute, Rayo Vallecano got a dangerous free kick near the penalty area after a foul by Huijsen against Isi, which was executed by Unai López but hit the defensive wall, and the ball rebounded to Ratiu who shot it in the 6th minute high over the goal.
Play continued between the two teams, with Chavarría stopping Valverde’s advance in the 7th minute with a successful defensive intervention, while Lejeune succeeded in the 9th minute in stopping Vinicius and preventing him from entering the area.
In the 13th minute, Huijsen saved Real Madrid’s goal from a certain goal, after clearing a dangerous low cross sent by Chavarría towards De Frutos inside the penalty area.
Real Madrid tried to regain control through set pieces, with Arda Güler taking a corner kick in the 16th minute, which was cleared by Rayo Vallecano’s defense before it posed any danger.
In the 19th minute, Ratiu almost scored the first goal of the match, after advancing from the right side and firing a powerful shot inside the penalty area, but Courtois saved it firmly.
Real Madrid responded just 3 minutes later with a very dangerous chance, when Vinicius received the ball inside the area and shot it powerfully, but Batalla shone again and saved his goal with an amazing reaction in the 22nd minute.
A minute later, Asensio rose to a cross from Carreras and headed it next to the right post in the 23rd minute, wasting another chance for Real Madrid.
In the 29th minute, Lejeune intervened again to prevent Bellingham from receiving a dangerous pass, before Carreras fired a powerful shot from outside the area in the 30th minute, but it went over the crossbar.
In the 35th minute, Vinicius tried again with a long-range shot, but the ball went far over the goal.
Huijsen’s defensive brilliance continued in the 37th minute after clearing a cross from Isi, before Rayo players protested in the 39th minute demanding a second yellow card for him for obstructing play.
As the first half drew to a close, Ratiu shone again inside the penalty area in the 42nd minute when he slid in front of Vinicius to prevent him from shooting and put the ball out for a goal kick.
Mutual attempts
With the start of the second half, specifically in the 46th minute, Arda Güler fell inside the penalty area demanding a penalty kick after a collision with Ciss, but the referee ordered play to continue.
Just 4 minutes later, De Frutos almost gave Rayo Vallecano the lead with a shot from inside the area that passed next to the post in the 50th minute, and Güler responded to him in the 51st minute with a powerful left-footed shot that passed very close to the goal.
In the 54th minute, Bellingham came close to scoring, after receiving the ball brilliantly inside the area and shooting with his left foot towards the goal, but Batalla continued to shine and saved it with his foot.
Kylian Mbappé fired his first dangerous shot in the 59th minute, which passed next to the left post.
In the 60th minute, Unai López shot from the edge of the area, but Valverde blocked the ball with his body.
A minute later, Isi tried to surprise Courtois with a long-range shot from midfield after noticing his advance, but the ball went over the crossbar in the 61st minute.
The 66th minute witnessed Rayo’s most dangerous opportunity in the match, when Ratiu passed a low ball inside the area to Álvaro García, who shot from close range over the crossbar strangely.
Real Madrid responded just two minutes later, in the 68th minute, with a powerful shot from Valverde that Batalla cleared again brilliantly.
In the 77th minute, Álvaro García exploited a long ball behind Real Madrid’s defense, and shot it from a difficult position over the goal.
Four minutes later, Valverde asked to be substituted due to a muscle injury, leaving in the 81st minute, and Trent Alexander-Arnold participated in his place.
In the 85th minute, Pacha Espino tried to launch towards Real Madrid’s goal, but he was offside after a successful defensive intervention from Trent who had recently participated.
Kylian Mbappé demanded a penalty kick in the 87th minute, after a violent intervention from Chavarria, but the referee indicated to continue playing.
The pressure continued from Real Madrid players, searching for a snatch goal of victory, but without any avail, the Merengue stumbled and lost two points.
