Real Madrid suffered a shocking 1-2 loss to Valencia in Matchday 30 of the 2024-25 La Liga season, putting their title hopes in jeopardy. One of the players most criticized during the game was Vinicius Junior, who was booed and whistled by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The home crowd expected a victory to close the gap with league leaders FC Barcelona, but a lackluster team performance led to frustration. Vinicius, in particular, had a tough first half, failing to convert from the penalty spot.
In the 10th minute, after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius took a predictable shot that was easily saved. Just five minutes later, defender Mouctar Diakhaby scored for Valencia, and in the play following the penalty, fans jeered Vinicius, who also lost possession of the ball.
In the post-match press conference, coach Carlo Ancelotti was asked if the boos would affect Vinicius, and he gave a direct response: “I don’t think so because Vinicius is very focused on what he’s doing. He may play well or play badly, but he always tries to give his all,” Ancelotti said. He was also questioned about Vinicius’ role as the penalty taker, given his recent struggles:
“It’s been a difficult season for penalty takers. Bellingham missed against Valencia, Mbappe missed against Bilbao and Liverpool, and Vinicius missed the last one against Atletico Madrid. I tried to give him confidence, but he missed this one too,” the coach explained.
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Despite scoring the equalizer in the 50th minute, the team’s overall performance left a bad impression on fans. Real Madrid will face Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday. After Saturday’s performance, the team will look to raise their level.
Vinicius matches Ronaldo Nazario at Real Madrid
Although Vinicius didn’t have his best game and received criticism from fans, he still managed to make history at the club. With his goal against Valencia, Vinicius tied Ronaldo Nazario’s record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian at Real Madrid, reaching 104 goals.
Vinicius achieved the milestone in 307 games, while Ronaldo reached 104 goals in 177 appearances. At just 24 years old, Vinicius has the opportunity to extend his lead as the club’s top Brazilian scorer, surpassing Ronaldo.
“A special day. It’s an honor to have the same number of goals as my idol and to be the Brazilian with the most goals in the history of this club. I came here as a kid, and he showed me the way to scoring. Thank you for the tips and calmness @ronaldo FENÓMENO,!” Vinicius wrote on his Instagram account.
“A bad match where we know we have to improve. But Madrid never gives up! See you in London,” he added, reflecting on the Valencia game and looking ahead to their upcoming Champions League clash with Arsenal.
