Vinicius Junior found himself at the center of an unexpected incident this Friday in La Liga. The FIFA The Best award winner was sent off after a confrontation with goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. Despite his dismissal, Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory over Valencia in a thrilling match that was decided in the final minutes.
Real Madrid and Valencia faced off this Friday in the rescheduled Matchday 12 clash of La Liga. The encounter was crucial for both sides: Los Merengues sought a win to seize the top spot in the standings, while their opponents, struggling near the relegation zone, were desperate to secure points to avoid the drop.
Valencia shocked their visitors with a strong first-half performance. In the 27th minute, Hugo Duro pounced on a rebound left by Thibaut Courtois following a Javi Guerra strike to give the hosts the lead. With that advantage, Valencia went into the break with a surprising 1-0 lead, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti with plenty to ponder.
However, the second half saw a change in momentum. Real Madrid emerged determined to equalize and were presented with a golden opportunity from the penalty spot. But Jude Bellingham’s effort struck the post, leaving the match still in the balance.
Vinicius was sent off
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Vinicius Junior became involved in a heated moment. After feeling aggrieved by a challenge from Dimitri Foulquier inside the penalty area, the Brazilian winger expressed his frustration. When referee Cesar Soto Grado waved off his claims, Vinicius’s anger boiled over.
Dan Thomas and Craig Burley take a look at the incident that resulted in a red card for Vinicius Jr. 📺
In the ensuing confrontation with Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, the Real Madrid forward struck his opponent. Following a VAR review, Soto Grado had no choice but to issue a red card, sending Vinicius off and leaving Real Madrid a man down for the remainder of the match.
see also
Real Madrid stars Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe open up about their dynamic
Real Madrid’s resilience
Down to 10 men, with only a few minutes left, and trailing 1-0, Real Madrid refused to give up and were ultimately rewarded for their perseverance. In the 85th minute, Luka Modric, on the receiving end of a precise assist from Jude Bellingham inside the penalty area, calmly slotted home the equalizer with a deft left-footed finish.
Luka Mordric comes off the bench to score his first goal of the season for 10-man Madrid ‼️
But the drama didn’t end there. In stoppage time, a lapse in communication between Valencia’s Dimitri Foulquier and Hugo Guillamon proved costly. The defenders allowed Bellingham to pounce on a loose ball inside the box and fire home the decisive goal. Real Madrid sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory, propelling them to the top of the La Liga standings.
ANOTHER STUNNING STOPPAGE TIME MOMENT FOR JUDE BELLINGHAM ‼️
