MADRID (AP) – Vinicius Junior was once again booed by some Real Madrid fans during Tuesday’s Champions League game against Monaco.
A section of the crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium jeered almost every time the Brazilian forward touched the ball in the early league games in Madrid.
The booing is it’s not that loud Such was the case with Madrid’s 2-0 win over Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday, but things quieted down once Madrid had the upper hand against Monaco.
As in the game against Levante, some fans jeered when Vinicius’ name was announced in the starting lineup.
Vinicius had a lackluster season and some fans saw him as one of the reasons for the manager’s resignation. Xabi Alonso It was replaced last week.
Vinicius got into an argument with Alonso. Alonso, a former Madrid and Spain great, took over as coach after a turbulent eight-month stint. Vinicius was reportedly the main player who did not support Alonso in the locker room.
The boos died down on Tuesday when Kylian Mbappé scored in the fifth minute to give the hosts the lead. Vinicius then provided the assist for Mbappé’s second goal in the 26th minute.
Mbappe went to hug Vinicius after the second goal.
Mbappe and new manager Alvaro Arbeloa come out on defense Vinicius recently said along with Mbappe that spectators should not blame him for the team’s struggles.
Many fans praised Vinicius’ shot in the seventh minute, which went just wide of the area. When he misplayed the ball in the 40th inning, some fans started booing again, but many more applauded in response.
There was no immediate heckling of club president Florentino Perez, as there was in the game against Levante.
Mbappe appeared to apologize to Monaco fans after scoring the goal. He was a former Monaco player.
Madrid come into the match against Levante on the back of two consecutive defeats, including a loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia (which led to Alonso’s departure) and a humiliating defeat to Albacete in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Before the match, a moment of silence was held in memory of the victims. Train accident that killed more than 40 people Sunday in southern Spain.
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