Vinícius and Maffeo rekindled their enduring rivalry within 10 minutes of the match’s commencement, as tensions escalated between the two, perpetuating a characteristic conflict in Real Madrid-Mallorca confrontations. The conflict commenced when Mallorca’s aggressive full-back engaged with Vinícius in what seemed to be a deliberate effort to disturb the Brazilian forward. The Real Madrid player gestured towards Maffeo’s chest, prompting the defender to feign a fall to the ground dramatically.
THE OVERARCHING CONTEXT
Maffeo’s actions provoked immediate indignation from the Real Madrid team, prompting Jude Bellingham to directly address Maffeo regarding his conduct. Dani Ceballos, on the sidelines, vocally alerted the officials to what he perceived as egregious simulation. The referee, De Burgos Bengoetxea, sought to mitigate the situation by calling both players for a severe admonition. Although the issue was temporarily subdued, tensions remained latent beneath the surface.
As the teams proceeded to the tunnel at halftime, the conflict escalated. Vinícius allegedly reprimanded Maffeo for his behaviour in the first half, inciting another intense confrontation. Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti promptly intervened to defend the Real Madrid player, preventing the confrontation from escalating. The hostility endured even after the final whistle. Maffeo engaged in a verbal dispute with Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio, necessitating Carlo Ancelotti’s intervention as a mediator. The seasoned coach maintained composure among players as they exited the pitch.
ARE YOU AWARE?
The animosity between Vinícius Jr. and Pablo Maffeo originated during the 2021-22 La Liga season when Maffeo received a red card for a severe tackle on the Brazilian winger. Despite Maffeo’s prior assertions of reconciliation, his latest pre-match comments have rekindled the conflict. Maffeo remarked that he could defeat Vinícius in “10 seconds,” a declaration that distinctly established the atmosphere for their recent confrontation.
What are the subsequent steps for Real Madrid?
Notwithstanding the on-field theatrics, Real Madrid exhibited a dominant performance, achieving a 3-0 triumph over Mallorca. Jude Bellingham initiated the scoring with an exquisite finish, succeeded by an own goal from Mallorca defender Martin Valjent. Rodrygo’s accurate strike in stoppage time secured Los Blancos’ advancement to the Supercopa de España final, where they will face arch-rivals Barcelona on Sunday.
