Last-gasp Madrid winner at Valencia denied as ref calls for FT

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Nicol blasts referees after chaotic ending to Real Madrid vs. Valencia

Stevie Nicol explains why the referees are to blame after a wild finish to Real Madrid vs. Valencia.


Real Madrid were left furious when a late Jude Bellingham goal was ruled out after the referee blew the full-time whistle to end an ill-tempered 2-2 draw with Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday.

Bellingham headed in a cross from Brahim Díaz but referee Jesús Gil Manzano had blown the whistle to end the game moments before, sparking a tussle between the teams as Madrid's players surrounded the official.

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Bellingham was shown a red card by the referee for his reaction.

Vinícius Júnior has earlier scored a brace to help Real Madrid fight back from two goals down and earn a 2-2 draw in the LaLiga clash.

It was the first time Madrid and Vinícius have been back to Mestalla since the Brazil forward was racially abused by fans on May 21 last year, before being sent off in a game that Madrid lost 1-0. 

While there were no immediate reports of more racist insults directed at him on Saturday, a large group of spectators did chant "Vinícius is stupid" and booed him loudly throughout.

After his first goal, Vinícius held up his fist toward the Valencia fans behind the goal. After his equalizer, he cupped his ears as if asking for more from the fans who jeered him.

"Vinícius played a very good game," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "He was decisive for us, even though he was more effective in the area than outside it. (Defender Dimitri) Foulquier played a great game defending him, so he had to find his spaces inside the area and he scored two very important goals for us."

Hugo Duro gave the hosts the lead with a header in the 27th minute, and Roman Yaremchuk made the most of a bad mistake from Madrid defender Dani Carvajal to extend Valencia's lead three minutes later.

Vinícius reduced the deficit with a close-range finish in first-half stoppage time and scored the equaliser with a towering header in the 76th minute.

Valencia thought they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time but the referee changed his mind after a VAR review showed there was no foul by Real defender Fran García on Duro.

Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby was carried off on a stretcher after an apparent leg injury when Aurélien Tchouaméni crashed into him in the final minutes.

Madrid moved to 66 points in the standings, seven points ahead of second-placed Girona, who have a game in hand at Mallorca on Sunday. Barcelona are third on 57 points. 

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.