As unusual as it may be, both Rubén Baraja and Carlo Ancelotti, the coaches of Valencia and Real Madrid, who face each other this Saturday at Mestalla, had to remember that there will be 21 footballers on the pitch in addition to Vinícius. The Brazilian, feared and expected, will be a magnet for glances, the center of attention for chants, a source of danger in attack and will arouse as much animosity as admiration.
Nobody forgets what happened last year, and it is best to do so to prevent it from happening again. On Sunday, May 21, 2023, Vinícius pointed out and identified a fan who had made monkey gestures at him from the stands behind the goal. Later the forward was sent off after hitting Hugo Duro in a fight. And when he left, he sent Valencia to the Second Division several times with his hands.
Afterwards, the Real Madrid player was suspended for the game due to the red card. There was a partial closure of the Mestalla stands. Valencia expelled the two racist fans. The Brazilian did not appear to testify because he was on vacation. And when finally, in October, he gave his testimony, the club was outraged considering that he had put all of its fans in the same bag. This is how we come to this week, when Valencia vetoed the production company that is preparing a documentary about Vini for Netflix.
“We know what happened and how Valencia acted: the situation was stopped. We have tried to remain firm that it did not seem fair to us to be branded as something we are not. We want to talk about sports and for our fans to enjoy,” Baraja remarked.
Ancelotti also applauded Valencia’s quick reaction at the time. “Valencia acted forcefully. This sport and this society has to act when someone commits a crime or violence. I think Valencia did well,” highlighted the Italian.
The Madrid coach does not plan to speak with Vinícius to prepare or protect him. He understands that his player was the victim and in no case has he considered leaving him out of the squad. “Because? No, the idea is to go play a great soccer game. “What the fans want is to see a show.” That is to say, Vinícius’s presence is not in danger. “We are going to a city that has now experienced a tragedy and I am sure they are going to enjoy a great game,” he recalled the recent deadly fire.
In the first round, Vini seemed motivated at the Bernabéu, where he scored two goals in the final 5-1. On the other hand, the winger has only scored in one of his four visits to Mestalla. Of course, today the Brazilian celebrates 250 games (71 goals) since he debuted in September 2018. “I expect the best version of him because he is a magnificent player. We have to minimize his qualities, which are many, and do it as a team. Not only Vinícius plays,” said Baraja, who trusts Foulquier to stop him.
For the big duel, one of the most complicated that the leader has left, and also thinking about the return of the Champions League against Leipzig, Jude Bellingham will reappear in Madrid, who has missed three games due to his injury on February 10. “He is at his best, comfortable with his ankle and he is going to play,” Ancelotti revealed. Help for a Vinícius who by no means plays alone.