Vinicius Junior found the perfect way to hit back at the racial abuse he suffered at the hands of Valencia fans, by netting twice for Real Madrid as they came from 2-0 down to earn a point in their LaLiga clash.
The Brazilian returned to the Mestella Stadium for the first time since he was racially abused there last season, and took the opportunity to send a message to the supporters.
Valencia had taken a 2-0 goal lead in the game, thanks to first half goals from Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchuk, but Madrid got themselves back into the game in stoppage time before the break.
After scooping the ball from the net, Vinicius turned to the stand full of those fans who had thrown slurs at the forward and threw his first to the sky in a clear defiance against the racism he had suffered.
Vinicius Jr cuts an iconic pose to racist fans in Valencia as he nets Real Madrid’s first goal
The Brazilian scored twice as Madrid battled back from 2-0 to take a point from the Mestalla
After his second goal Vinicius cupped his ears at the home supporters that had abused him
The forward then double-downed on his response by netting his second fifteen minutes from time, securing a point for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
On this occasion his taunts to his detractors came via him showing the fans the back of his shirt, and then cupping his ears and sticking out his tongue in celebration at salvaging a draw for his team.
He’s actions came after their team’s meeting last May, when Vinicius claimed fans were making monkey gestures and shouting abuse at him in Madrid’s 1-0 defeat.
Vinicius was sent off for violent conduct late into the game, a punishment that was later rescinded, while Valencia were handed a partial stadium ban and £40,000 fine.
Valencia have always refuted the claims, while one local newspaper went as far as to call the Real Madrid star a liar and mock him up as Pinocchio on their front page.
This came after he went to court to testify against three fans who he accused of racially abusing him during the fiery encounter. Supporters that have subsequently been banned for life by the club.
Vinicius accused Valencia supporters of making monkey gestures and noises last season
A newspaper in Valencia mocked Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr up as Pinocchio on their front page and accused the footballer of lying about the racist abuse he received at a game in May
After the match in May, Vinicius posted an Instagram story which saw him state that ‘racism is normal in LaLiga’ and that ‘the championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano, and Messi, now belongs to racists’.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw wasn’t short of emotion and drama, especially as Madrid thought they’d won it with the last kick of the game when Jude Bellingham headed home from a Brahim Diaz cross.
The wild celebrations were cut short however, when the referee ruled he had blown the final whistle before Bellingham put the ball into the back of the net.
The draw sees Madrid extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points, but Girona have the chance to gain some ground on the Spanish giants if they can beat Mallorca on Monday evening.
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