Young Real Madrid star Endrick found himself at the center of a storm during Los Blancos’ 3-2 win over Alaves on Tuesday night.
In what was supposed to be a smooth victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, an incident involving the 18-year-old Brazilian left many wondering if he should have seen red.
Endrick’s groin kick: was it a red card?
Endrick was substituted in the final 20 minutes of the La Liga clash and quickly became involved in a heated moment with Alaves defender Santiago Mourino.
As the two fought for position in the penalty area, Endrick appeared to hit Mourino in the groin with his knee. Surprisingly, the referee only showed him a yellow card, much to the scandal of Alavés coach Luis Garcia Plaza.
Plaza didn’t hold back after the match, insisting the young striker should have been sent off. “It’s a red card. We should have played the last 10 minutes against 10 men. It’s a light red, no one can say otherwise. If the referee didn’t see it, that’s what VAR is for,” Plaza said, clearly frustrated by the decision.
“Red card for Endrick? I haven’t seen it, I can’t comment”
Ancelotti is truly a coward. pic.twitter.com/8Co0mArlMA
– Total Barça (@totalBarca) September 25, 2024
While Alavés fans saw red, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti kept his cool, avoiding any suggestion that his player should have been sent off. Endrick’s continued presence on the pitch was crucial for Madrid, helping them maintain their narrow lead and stay in the title race.
For Real Madrid fans, Endrick’s aggressive play may not have been his finest moment, but it certainly spiced up an already exciting match. With a huge derby against Atletico Madrid looming on Sunday, Los Blancos will need all the fire from players like Endrick – hopefully without any more controversial spot kicks.
Madrid’s victory over Alaves keeps them close to rivals Barcelona, and if they manage to overcome Atletico this weekend, the La Liga title race will only intensify.
