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Real Madrid Triumphs 1-0 Over Real Sociedad Amid Racist Abuse Controversy
Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg, with Brazilian forward Endrick scoring the only goal. However, the match, held at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, was marred by racist abuse aimed at Vinicius Junior.
Endrick’s 19th-minute strike was enough to secure the win for the visitors. The 18-year-old forward scored after controlling a ball from Jude Bellingham and finishing with a stylish shot at the near post.
However, the match took a dark turn just before halftime when the game was paused due to racist chants directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. A video later emerged showing a Real Sociedad fan making monkey gestures at the Brazilian winger. This incident followed a series of chants targeting the 22-year-old defender Raul Asencio, related to an ongoing investigation, although it was the first time the match had been stopped because of such abuse.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti explained the pause in the match, stating that Vinicius had spoken to the referee about the chants, prompting the game’s stoppage. Ancelotti also decided to substitute Vinicius at halftime due to his emotional state and a yellow card, preferring to protect the player.
Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal condemned the insults, emphasizing that there are better ways to address misconduct. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with Real Sociedad later displaying a message on the stadium’s big screen condemning racist and intolerant behavior.
Vinicius has long been a target of racist abuse in Spanish football, with previous incidents leading to arrests and convictions. Despite this, he remains a key figure for Madrid, who will host Sociedad for the second leg on April 1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The first leg also saw Madrid fielding a rotated squad due to injuries to Kylian Mbappé, Fede Valverde, and Thibaut Courtois. Despite this, they dominated the match, with goalkeeper Andriy Lunin making several key saves. Endrick’s goal was the highlight, and his performance continues to impress in the Copa del Rey.
In other Copa del Rey news, Atletico Madrid drew 4-4 with Barcelona in their first-leg semifinal clash.
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