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Xabi Alonso Condemns Diego Simeone's Behavior Towards Vinicius Jr in Real Madrid's Supercopa Win over Atletico

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso criticizes Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone for his treatment of Vinicius Jr during their Supercopa de Espana clash. Get all the details on this intense rivalry and Alonso's strong stance against unsporting behavior.

Xabi Alonso Condemns Diego Simeone's Behavior Towards Vinicius Jr in Real Madrid's Supercopa Win over Atletico

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has hit out at Atletico Madrid counterpart Diego Simeone for his treatment of Vinicius Jr during their Supercopa de Espana meeting on Thursday. Los Blancos emerged as 2-1 winners in their semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, with Federico Valverde and Rodrygo scoring for Alonso's side.Vinicius was substituted late on in Real's 2-1 victory, and as he made his way off the pitch, he clashed again with Atletico manager Simeone. The Brazil winger complained to the referee over comments made, with Simeone supposedly saying that "Florentino [Perez] is going to fire you, remember that." Alonso tried to confront the Argentine on the touchline and the Spanish press claim he told the Atleti boss to focus "with your own team, damn it."In his post-match press conference, Alonso revealed his fury at Simeone for trying to antagonise Vinicius. "I didn't like the moment. Cholo said something to him, and those things go against the spirit you should have for your team-mates. I don't like it when team-mates are spoken to like that. Not everything is acceptable... I spoke with Vinicius and it's staying between us."I try to be respectful to the opposing team's players and I don't usually speak to them. When I saw what he said, I liked it even less. That's not a good example of sportsmanship. Not everything goes; you have to respect your opponent. Everything that happens on the field has its limits."You can't talk like that. Some things cross the line."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Vinicius failed to score for an 18th match in a row for Real and Brazil, though that mattered little for Los Blancos on this occasion as they managed to get revenge on their city rivals for their 5-2 defeat at the Estadio Metropolitano earlier this season. Alonso was particularly impressed by Valverde, whose spectacular free-kick broke the deadlock."It was a very hard-fought match," Alonso mused. "Fede's early goal gave us the advantage and forced us to adjust our approach. We didn't suffer too much in the first half. There were moments of everything because it was a semifinal, but this team knows how to compete. It was a very intense, hard-fought match. At 1-2, we had to change our approach, we settled down, and we suffered. This is the path to the title on Sunday, and we're in the final. The goal was to reach the final against a very good opponent. We hadn't forgotten the first league match. Things we needed: energy, duels, challenges."Yes, [the early goal] did affect the game. The idea was to understand what needed to be done at each moment. The important thing is the match and being in the final."Fede had a fantastic game. For the goal, the assist, what he brought to the team, linking up with his teammates, intense in defense. He has that competitive spirit. Goals aren't the most important thing for him, but they give him energy. It was a classic Fede goal, with an impressive strike."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingReal Madrid will now prepare to face Clasico rivals Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday evening at King Abdullah Sport City. Barca ran out 5-2 winners in this fixture at this same stage of the competition last season, but Hansi Flick's side were beaten by Alonso's men this season, with the under-fire Real boss seeing his team win 2-1 at the Bernabeu back in October.Barcelona advanced to the final with a statement 5-0 win against Athletic Club in the semi-finals on Wednesday. While Real are ready to welcome Kylian Mbappe back into the fold following injury, Barca are hoping to call upon Lamine Yamal amid his own fitness concerns.

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Alonso Stands Up for Vinicius Jr

During Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Atletico in the Supercopa de Espana, a clash ensued between Vinicius Jr and Diego Simeone as the Brazilian winger was being substituted. Simeone allegedly made disparaging remarks about Vinicius' future at the club, prompting Alonso to defend his player and criticize Simeone's conduct.

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Alonso's Post-Match Reaction

Following the game, Xabi Alonso expressed his disapproval of Simeone's behavior, emphasizing the importance of respect on the field. Alonso highlighted that such comments go against the spirit of sportsmanship and stressed that there are boundaries that should not be crossed in football.

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Valverde Shines for Real Madrid

Federico Valverde's crucial free-kick goal was pivotal in Real Madrid's victory over Atletico. Alonso praised Valverde's overall performance, recognizing his contributions both offensively and defensively. Valverde's goal set the tone for Real Madrid's eventual triumph in a hard-fought semi-final.

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Road to the Supercopa Final

Real Madrid secured their spot in the Supercopa de Espana final where they will face arch-rivals Barcelona. The final promises to be a heated encounter, with both teams eager to claim the title. Alonso's team will aim to avenge their previous defeat against Barcelona, setting the stage for an intense showdown.

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Anticipation for the Final Clash

As Real Madrid prepares to battle Barcelona in the Supercopa final, the spotlight will be on the historic rivalry between the two Spanish giants. With key players returning from injury and fitness concerns, both teams are gearing up for a highly anticipated showdown in the Spanish cup final.

Published on Jan 9, 2026