Real Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Valencia as the home side gave themselves a huge boost in their bid for La Liga survival.
There was late controversy as Vinicius Junior. was sent off in injury time after appearing to catch Hugo Duro with a forearm in a melee of players.
Valencia started the match just two points above the bottom three after a dreadful season that has threatened to see them relegated.
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Real meanwhile have also had a disappointing campaign by their standards. They gave up their Liga crown to arch-rivals Barcelona, who have been reinvigorated under Xavi Hernandez.
Carlo Ancelotti, who earlier this week claimed he would remain in post for next year despite speculation that he will be replaced, also saw his team knocked out of the Champions League after a drubbing by Manchester City in the second leg of the semi-final.
They are not even guaranteed second place after a resurgence from Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, who are one spot ahead of them in second spot.
A win for Valencia took them into 13th spot, and gives them a healthy chance of staying up given the number of clubs now below them.
They had Diego Lopez to thank for the win as he struck just after the half-hour mark, sliding in at the far post to put the home side in front, and they held onto their lead until full-time.
While it was Lopez’s first goal for Valencia, it may prove to be the most important no matter how many more he scores.
Vinicius Junior sent off
There was late controversy as Vinicius Jr. was sent off in injury time after appearing to catch Hugo Duro with a forearm in a melee of players.
“Vinicius Junior was sent off late in Real Madrid’s loss at Valencia after being subjected to racist chants from fans at the Mestalla.
“The 22-year-old was dismissed for the first time in his career for violent conduct on 97 minutes after an altercation with Hugo Duro.
“Earlier in the game, an incensed Vinicius attempted to bring a Valencia fan to the referee’s attention.”
Valencia’s next match is a trip to Mallorca on Thursday evening, while Real host Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night.
Carlo Ancelotti suggests that matches should be stopped after Vinicius Junior’s racist chants
Carlo Ancelotti declared “These episodes of racism can’t happen” after Vinicius Junior was sent off against Valencia, while the forward appeared to blame La Liga.
Real Madrid lost 1-0 to the mid-table side in a defeat that sees them risk finishing in third place in La Liga after trailing Barcelona from second spot for much of the campaign.
However, after the match, Ancelotti said he was not interested in discussing football after seeing Vinicius Junior receive a red card.
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The Brazilian forward appeared to strike Valencia’s Hugo Duro in injury time after an altercation with the opposing player, but that incident followed a tense moment on the pitch when Vinicius Jr. pointed out at least one rival fan in the crowd.
Vinicius Junior has been repeatedly made a target of racist abuse by fans throughout this season, and Ancelotti suggested the same had happened again on Sunday.
He told Movistar that he was not interested in discussing defeat, and when asked what he wanted to talk about, he said: “About what happened here. I think that’s more important. More important than a defeat, don’t you?
“I’m calm, but what happened today shouldn’t happen. For a stadium to shout “monkey” at a player and for a coach to think about taking him off for that… There’s something wrong with this league.”
Asked about Vinicius Junior’s frame of mind, Ancelotti added: “He didn’t want to play on. I told him that I didn’t think it was fair, it wasn’t his fault, he wasn’t to blame. He continued playing, and he also got a senseless red card. That said, we have a problem.
“For me, Vinícius Junior is one of the best in the world. These episodes of racism can’t happen, it was the whole stadium, not just one person, as on other occasions. It has to be stopped. And I would say the same if we won 3-0.”
The Italian suggested that the answer to combat racism would be to stop matches.
Discussing the referee, Ancelotti said: “I told him he has to stop the match. He told me that the protocol says that you have to report it, but he has been insulted from the first minute.
“Stop the match. For me, it’s to stop the match. It’s clear that this can’t go on, it’s impossible. He is the player who receives the most fouls and the most insults.”
On Instagram, Vinicius Jr. wrote: “The prize that racists have won was my expulsion. It’s not football, it’s La Liga.”
