MARCELO took a knee and raised the Black Power fist in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement as he scored in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Eibar.
After Barcelona hammered Mallorca 4-0 the day before, Madrid needed three points to close the gap behind their rivals to just two points.
Marcelo took a knee and raised a Black Power fist in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as Real Madrid breezed past EibarCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
Marcelo capped off a trio of goals for the hosts just before the breakCredit: Reuters
Real wasted no time at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium – playing at the home of their reserves while renovations go on at the Bernabeu – taking the lead after just four minutes.
Karim Benzema was intercepted in the box but the ball fell to midfielder Toni Kroos, who smashed the ball first time into the top corner.
Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos – sporting a serious lockdown beard – then doubled the scoring on the half hour mark.
But he can thank ex-Chelsea forward Eden Hazard for the goal, after the Belgian laid off his team-mate inside the penalty box leaving Ramos with a tap in.
Brazilian left-back Marcelo capped off a trio of goals for the hosts just before the break, after he smashed home inside the box.
The defender immediately took a knee and raised his right fist in celebration, acting as the latest star to back the BLM protest.
Madrid largely controlled the second 45 but were stunned after an hour as Pedro Bigas deflected home to pull one back.
Following a corner, Paulo De Blasis reacted quickly and got a shot off only for it to hit Bigas’ back, wrong footing Thibaut Courtois, who fumbled the ball past the line.
Gareth Bale, whose Madrid future has been subject to recent speculation, came on with 30 minutes to play, slotting in on the right wing.
Zinedine Zidane’s side travel the seventh-placed Valencia on Thursday, with league leaders Barca hosting Leganes two days before.
Kroos celebrates as Madrid closed the gap behind Barcelona to two pointsCredit: Reuters
Welsh forward Gareth Bale came on with half an hour to playCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
