VINICIUS IS REAL’S NEW HERO AFTER CLASICO WIN
REAL MADRID put their Champions League defeat by Manchester City behind them by winning the Clasico and moving back to the top of La Liga. For 70 minutes it seemed that Cristiano Ronaldo had picked the perfect night to take his seat in his private box at the Santiago Bernabeu and watch his old team. Real Madrid were battering Barcelona but could not score. But with 20 minutes left, 19-year-old Vinicius found the back of the net thanks to a Gerard Pique deflection. Toni Kroos sent him over the top and he darted towards Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s goal. He opened his body and went for the far corner but his shot cannoned off of Pique and beat the Barcelona goalkeeper at his near post.
It was fortunate, but fortune favours players who play with Vinicius’ courage and he had been undaunted by a frustrating first half of promising runs ruined by misplaced crosses. The Brazilian became the youngest player to score in a Clasico this century and he almost got a second when he cleverly flicked Dani Carvajal’s cross just wide. He then charged at Ter Stegen, going over the keeper’s body leaving referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz with a touch decision. He waved away the penalty appeals. Lionel Messi had a late free-kick but this was not Barcelona’s night and it sailed into Thibaut Courtois’s hands. Messi was also booked. Substitute Mariano added the second in injury time, turning Samuel Umiti and homing in on Ter Stegen’s goal before beating the keeper at his near post. By this point Ronaldo had left his box. How Madrid still miss him. Fans stayed in the stadium to celebrate the team’s first home league win in a Clasico in five years. The win lifts the gloom at the Bernabeu and maybe a comeback against Pep Guardiola’s side is not completely out of the question.