In a game overshadowed by racial chants and a red card for Vinicius Junior, Diego Lopez scored in the first half to give Valencia a crucial victory over Real Madrid on Sunday. The victory helped Valencia pull farther away from the relegation zone.
Valencia is five points clear of the relegation zone in 13th place in LaLiga with three games remaining and 40 points. Madrid is in third place with 71 points, 14 points back of winners Barcelona, who won the league last week with four games remaining.
Madrid was eliminated from the Champions League after losing 4-0 against Manchester City on Wednesday in the second leg of their semifinal.
Lopez’s close-range goal put Valencia, who are still trying to avoid the drop, ahead in the 33rd minute.
After Vinicius was dismissed for fighting with players from Valencia, Real played the final few minutes with just 10 players.
In the second half, the game was stopped briefly due to racial shouts directed against the Brazil winger by spectators at the Mestalla.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti told Movistar Plus, “I don’t want to speak about football now; talking about football today has no purpose.
“It’s unacceptable what we witnessed today. I informed the referee that he ought to have halted the game since the entire stadium was yelling racist epithets.
Vinicius’ response, according to Ancelotti, was “understandable” given the situation.
The Italian remarked, “I asked him if he wanted to keep playing, and he stayed in the game.
“This is a concern for LaLiga. The most significant player in the world, in my opinion, is Vinicius. LaLiga is having an issue, and these incidents of racism ought to be stopped.
“The game must end because the entire audience is disparaging a player with racial shouts. There is no other way to put it; I would say the same thing if we were winning 3-0.
Vinicius feels upset and depressed. This is not possible in the society we live in.