Elche vs Real Madrid: La Masia graduate defends Vinicius after Los Blancos controversial equaliser

Elche goalkeeper Inaki Pena played down the controversial tackle from Vinicius leading up to Real Madrid's equaliser, stating that it was nothing. 

In the 87th minute of Real Madrid’s 2–2 draw against Elche tonight, Vinícius Júnior and Elche keeper Iñaki Peña came together inside the box. 

Vinícius’s knee/upper thigh struck Peña’s face as the ball broke up for Jude Bellingham to score the equaliser seconds later. 

Elche coach Éder Sarabia described the contact as “a clear foul on the goalkeeper” and publicly criticised the officials and VAR for not intervening. 

Peña, on loan from Barcelona and the player who bore the brunt of the collision, downplayed the episode when speaking to media, defending Vinícius and calling it “nothing” beyond a clash of bodies in the run of play. 

“The incident with Vinícius? Nothing, it was just a play in the game. His knee hit me because of the movement. It ended up as a blow and that’s it. It stays on the pitch.”