Vinicius Junior has played down the late-game tensions that followed Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona, insisting that neither he nor his team-mates intended to disrespect anyone during the heated exchanges at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Brazilian winger was substituted in the 72nd minute with Madrid still leading, and his visible frustration at being taken off was evident as he questioned head coach Xabi Alonso’s decision before heading down the tunnel.
However, Vinicius later returned to the bench and was involved in the confrontation between both sets of players after the final whistle, during which he clashed with Lamine Yamal and was booked for his involvement.
“A message to all Madridistas, especially those who came to the Bernabeu and supported us,” Vinicius told Real Madrid TV after the match.
“The Clasico is like that; there are a lot of things happening on and off the pitch.
“We try to maintain a balance, but it’s not always possible. We didn’t want to offend anyone, not Barça players, nor the fans.
“We know that when we step onto the pitch, we have to defend our side, and that’s how it was today.”
In total, five players were shown yellow cards following the post-match scuffle, while Madrid substitute Andriy Lunin received a red card.
The animosity between the two sides had already been stoked in the days leading up to the encounter after Lamine Yamal’s comments suggesting that Madrid “rob and complain,” adding further intensity to what was already a fiercely contested Clasico.
Following the game, Alonso sought to diffuse any controversy surrounding both Vinicius’s reaction to his substitution and the late altercations between the teams.
“I focus on a lot of positive things in the game, and positive things from Vini,” Alonso said during his post-match press conference. “We’ll talk about [the reaction] of course.”
Addressing the scuffles at full-time, Alonso attributed them to emotions running high.
“I interpret it with normality, we don’t have to make too much of it,” he said. “It’s the tension of the moment, for them and us. These scuffles have always happened.”
