VALENCIA WALK OFF

Players leave pitch in protest after “racist abuse” towards Diakhaby

VALENCIA players took a stand against racism by walking off the pitch midway through their 2-1 defeat at CADIZ last night.

Mouctar Diakhaby of Valencia was furious after an altercation 31 minutes into the La

Liga clash, claiming to have been the victim of a racial insult.

Diakhaby, 24, and his team-mates then decided to walk off the pitch after a consultation with match officials (circled, above).

The game eventually continued with Valencia agreeing to return from the away dressing room.

The Spanish outfit tweeted: “We offer our complete backing to @Diakhaby_5. The player, who had received a racial insult, requested that his teammates return to the pitch. We support you Mouctar.”

Cadiz defender Juan Cala, who opened the scoring in the 14th minute, was the alleged perpetrator – with reports in Spain claiming the insult “black s**t” had been used. Elsewhere in Spain, ATHLETIC BILBAO are in danger of losing two Copa del Rey finals in the space of three weeks. They went down 1-0 to REAL SOCIEDAD on Saturday, in the rearranged 2019-20 final. They can try again in this season’s final against Barcelona on 17 April.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner from the spot in the 63rd-minute following a fiveminute VAR review. It was the first time Sociedad had lifted the trophy in 34 years.

REAL MADRID warmed up for tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with Liverpool by beating EIBAR 2-0.

In France, Neymar was accused of being a “crazy” hothead for getting himself sent off in PARIS SAINTGERMAIN’S shock loss to French title rivals LILLE.

Jonathan David’s deflected effort earned a 1-0 victory to send Lille three points clear at the top of the table.

Neymar and Lille’s Tiago Djalo (below) were both shown second yellow cards after a stoppage-time bust-up. Ex-france defender Bixente Lizarazu said of the Brazil superstar: “As soon as things don’t turn out in his favour, Neymar goes crazy. His behaviour does not help his team-mates.” MONACO moved to within a point of the champions by thrashing METZ 4-0, while LYON were held 1-1 at LENS.

INTER MILAN moved eight points clear at the Serie A summit after Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal at BOLOGNA.

Rivals AC MILAN required an 87th-minute leveller from substitute Jens Petter Hauge to earn a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man SAMPDORIA.

JUVENTUS dropped to fourth after Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal was worth only a point in a 2-2 draw at TORINO in the Turin derby.

BAYERN MUNICH moved a step closer to a ninth successive Bundesliga title by winning 1-0 at nearest rivals RB LEIPZIG. Midfielder Leon Goretzka scored the only goal to open up a seven-point gap.

But ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League meeting with Manchester City, BORUSSIA DORTMUND went down 2-1 at home to EINTRACHT FRANKFURT.

MAKING A STAND Mouctar Diakhaby (No. 12) leads his team-mates from the pitch in Cadiz