Rodrygo raises fist in Vinicius tribute

Rodrygo struck a overdue winner for Real Madrid in a 2-1 La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday and raised his fist into the air in a nod to crew-mate Vinicius Junior.Brazilian winger Vinicius obtained racist abuse in opposition to Valencia on Sunday, but become looking on from the president’s field due to a knee problem.

Rodrygo struck within the 89th minute to ship Madrid 2nd and bowed his head at the same time as lifting his fist in a “Black Power” salute.

Karim Benzema sent Madrid into the lead in the first half earlier than Raul de Tomas equalised for the site visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Rodrygo figuring out the game within the very last degrees.

The win despatched Real Madrid 2nd, a factor above competitors Atletico Madrid, who drew three-three at Getafe in a while Wednesday.

Vinicius became not present at the pitch however turned into not a ways from the players’ mind, as Madrid coated up earlier than the game wearing his number 20 shirt as a gesture of aid.

The ahead was sent off against Valencia and although the card become revoked on Tuesday night, he was no longer able to recover from his knee problem to play.

It become the primary time Madrid have played for the reason that abuse befell and lots of sports stars and different vast figures across the world have supplied Vinicius their aid.

Supporters chanted his call after 20 mins and a banner in a single stand study “We are all Vinicius, sufficient already!”

“I think anybody in soccer, not simply in football, in all of recreation, the complete world, (is reacting to) those movements, they must now not be allowed,” Madrid defender Dani Carvajal instructed Movistar after the game.

“We must all enhance, try to make this now not appear, because in the end it is no longer fair.”

Benzema broke the deadlock by way of taking the ball around the goalkeeper after Fede Valverde performed him thru.

Madrid created few in addition superb possibilities in a drab performance, with Carlo Ancelotti’s facet with out a clear goal within the final weeks of the season.

Rayo struck again through De Tomas, and the former Real Madrid youth player did now not rejoice his goal.

Rodrygo prompt home nicely from the edge of the container to make certain Madrid had the remaining snicker and brought Vinicius lower back into cognizance with his birthday celebration.

“He’s doing properly, all the assist he has obtained within the last days is right for him,” Ancelotti told newshounds.

“If he didn’t have the knee problem he would have played, certainly.

“We’ll see how he is the following day and Friday to see if we play him on Saturday.”

Ancelotti said he did no longer see Rodrygo’s celebration.

“I failed to see the gesture, however all the gamers are close to Vini, they feel this problem, he is very affected in this experience.

“They are very good buddies, it is been a chunk hard for Vini everything that has happened, and it turned into to show his closeness to a crew-mate.”

Villarreal stored their narrow Champions League qualifying hopes alive with a 2-0 win over struggling Cadiz, ultimate the distance on fourth-located Real Sociedad to 5 points.

Atletico took a commanding 3-intention lead in opposition to Espanyol in Cornella however the hosts battled back to earn a factor, even though they’re now three at the back of seventeenth-located Cadiz.

Saul, Yannick Carrasco and Antoine Griezmann struck for Diego Simeone’s side, who were lethal at the counter against Espanyol, combating for their lives.

The Catalan aspect did now not give up and Cesar Montes, Joselu and Vinicius Souza pulled them level in a wild 15-minute spell inside the second 1/2.

Getafe’s 1-zero win at Real Betis pulled them up to sixteenth, even though they are degree on 38 factors with Cadiz, seventeenth, and Valladolid, 18th, setting up a aggravating very last rounds of fits at the bottom.