Real Madrid secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig on Wednesday night, in a game in which the Merengues showed nerves.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team didn’t put in a brilliant performance, showing weaknesses, especially in midfield, which allowed RB Leipzig to create several goal-scoring opportunities.
One controversial moment came in the 54th minute when Vinicius Junior was involved in an unsportsmanlike act during a duel with Willi Orban, grabbing the Hungarian defender around the neck.
After the match, there were several reactions in the Spanish press to Vini’s unsportsmanlike gesture. Predrag Mijatović, a former Real Madrid legend between 1996 and 1999, was one of the most fervent critics of the Brazilian winger:
“The Real Madrid shirt doesn’t allow this kind of behaviour, maybe in other teams it does. I’d advise him to find a way to calm down or he won’t become an important player. He’s a player who makes a difference, he deserves respect for that. He’s an excellent footballer, but everyone tells him he has to change his behaviour. He shouts at his team-mates and opponents. They have to calm him down like a child. This has to change, there has to be a radical change. Everything that is good from a footballing point of view will be ruined by other aspects”, said Pedja Mijatovic.
