Overview
- Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 in Jeddah with goals from Federico Valverde and Rodrygo, while Alexander Sorloth scored for Atlético, to set up a final against Barcelona.
- Broadcast audio reported by Movistar captured Diego Simeone allegedly telling Vinícius Júnior that Florentino Pérez would “kick you out,” prompting Xabi Alonso to say the comments crossed a line.
- Alonso confronted Simeone on the touchline and later called the conduct not an example of sportsmanship, while Simeone declined to detail what was said.
- Vinícius later mocked Simeone on Instagram, writing that the Atlético coach had “lost yet another knockout match,” and Atlético issued a message defending their manager and questioning the focus on his reaction.
- Alonso confirmed Kylian Mbappé will travel and could feature in the final, as scrutiny persists over Vinícius’s scoring drought and Jude Bellingham’s earlier denial of dressing-room unrest remains on record.