JAKARTA - Young striker Endrick scored his only goal when Real Madrid's second-tier team played well enough to win 1-0 over Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Real Madrid started the game brilliantly even though Manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several key players.
It took them 19 minutes to break the deadlock. 18-year-old Brazilian Endrick gave a slick finish through a counterattack.
Vinicius Junior fought hard in the defense to reclaim the ball and quickly passed the ball to Jude Bellingham who released a brilliant long pass.
The bait was then greeted calmly by Endrick before releasing a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper.
Los Blancos' chances were born again six minutes later. However, Alex Remiro made a brilliant save with one hand over Vinicius' close-range shot.
Meanwhile, Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal squandered a golden opportunity to equalize moments later. He fired a weak shot from inside the penalty box that Andriy Lunin could easily hold.
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Just before the break, referee Jose Maria Sanchez stopped the game briefly after Vinicius, who had just debuted as Real Madrid captain, caught the referee's attention to fans who allegedly insulted his teammate, Raul Asencio.
Sanchez went to the sidelines to inform managers and police officers of the situation. He asked stadium broadcasters to read out the protocol statement against racist speech, xenophobia, and violence.
The stadium broadcaster's remarks were greeted by a few supporters, who also began to insult Vinicius.
"Not for racist, xenophobic, or intolerant singing. Support the team, respect the opponent," said the message from the loudspeaker.
Real Madrid appeared convincing after the break and dominated the game. However, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by Real Sociedad, with both goalkeepers performing brilliantly.
The best chance came from Endrick, who almost widened Los Blancos' lead as he fired hard from the edge of the penalty box that hit the crossbar.
Remiro made another brilliant save then to thwart Bellingham's attempt.
Real Madrid will have the advantage of playing at home for the second leg on April 2, 2025, with Atletico Madrid hosting Barcelona a day later in the other semifinals after drawing 4-4 in the first leg.
Asencio's Problem
Mid-back Asencio made his first-team debut in November 2024, when the team experienced a crisis of defensive player injuries.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, replaced Asencio - who played at right-back - in the first half with Lucas Vazquez.
"Vinicius spoke to the referee. The referee stopped the match and implemented the protocol."
"Wasit did the right thing. After that, I pulled out (Asencio). The player had two things, which was influenced by (singing) and he got a yellow card. So I pulled out."
"No one likes stadiums shouting 'dead' to them. Asencio is affected in that regard. He's not very happy. So, I'd rather pull him out. His emotions may have affected him," Ancelotti told a news conference after the game.
Meanwhile, the captain and manager of Sociedad also condemned the insults directed at Asencio.
"We condemn the insult. We don't like it. I think there are other ways to condemn what happened, or what may have been done, but this is not the right way to do it," Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal told Movistar.
"If that happens - because I didn't hear it - I condemn it. We don't like it happening in our stadium or any stadium. We condemn the chant, it shouldn't happen," said Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil.
22-year-old Asencio has become an important member of the team, starting in both Champions League knockout playoffs against Manchester City this month.
However, earlier this month, a court in the Canary Islands ruled that an investigation into Asencio's alleged role in the spread of sexually explicit videos involving minors would continue.
Asencio is suspected of having shared a sexual video recorded by three other former Real Madrid academy players about sexual intercourse with two girls, one of whom is a minor, in June 2023.
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