Actual Madrid ahead Vinicius Jr mentioned the show of a banner highlighting Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win earlier than kick-off at Manchester Metropolis motivated him much more to win the Champions League play-off first leg.
Spain midfielder Rodri forward of the Brazil winger final October, with Actual boycotting the ceremony in Paris as a result of they felt their participant had deserved the award.
The big banner unfurled by Metropolis followers on Tuesday evening at Etihad Stadium confirmed Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or alongside the phrases “Cease crying your coronary heart out”.
Nonetheless, a last-minute Jude Bellingham objective ensured it was Actual who had been celebrating at full-time
“I noticed the banner,” Vinicius Jr advised Movistar.
“Every time the opposing followers do issues like that they offer me extra energy to have an amazing recreation and right here I’ve accomplished it.”
This was the fourth successive season – and the fifth in six – that the 2 groups have met within the knockout levels of the event.
Actual gained on penalties when the pair confronted off within the quarter-finals final yr and Carlo Ancelotti’s facet went on to win their fifteenth title.
“They know our historical past, every little thing we do on this competitors,” Vinicius Jr
“It’s the fifth time we come right here, it’s all the time very chilly, however this time now we have gained and now we have to proceed this.”
The 2 sides meet in Madrid within the second leg subsequent Wednesday.
Bellingham delivers extra last-gasp heroics
Bellingham memorably scored a last-minute objective for England in opposition to Slovakia to ship their Euro 2024 last-16 match into further time, and he delivered the late heroics as soon as once more in Manchester.
“It was an enormous objective,” Actual boss Carlo Ancelotti advised Amazon Prime.
“He performed a implausible recreation and was all the time harmful. It was a high recreation for him.”
Bellingham, who has scored 11 targets in all competitions this season, added: “It was a bizarre one. We performed a few of our greatest soccer of the season and ended up behind.
“I do not care what type Metropolis are in they’re nonetheless an unbelievable staff. It is all the time difficult to play in opposition to them and we lastly took the prospect on the finish.”
On subsequent week’s second leg, he added: “It is all the time good to take a lead again dwelling and I am positive the Bernabeu will come by means of for us.
“It looks like there’s up and downs in these knockout video games. It isn’t simply recreation administration, it is tactical and it is psychological as nicely.”