It was expected, and it unfolded exactly as many feared: the Bernabéu erupted against its own players in Saturday’s LaLiga clash with Levante. After Wednesday’s Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of second-tier Albacete, Real Madrid fans decided they weren’t letting anything slide anymore, directing their frustration primarily at two stars: Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.
The tone was set early. When the team bus reached the area near the stadium entrance at Plaza de los Sagrados Corazones - the usual gathering spot where fans await the bus’s arrival before major matches - the squad was greeted with scattered jeers and whistles, a precursor of what was to come.
Players get frosty warm-up welcome
Even during warm‑ups, the tension was palpable. As Thibaut Courtois and academy goalkeepers Fran González and Sergio Mestre jogged out onto the pitch more than 40 minutes before kickoff, they were met with whistles. It was striking, especially considering Courtois’ history of heroics, including his performance in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool.
The same reaction echoed moments later when the rest of the players emerged for their pre‑game routines. A heavy challenge from Dean Huijsen on Kylian Mbappé briefly alarmed the crowd, but it did nothing to soften the mood. When the squad headed back to the locker room, now with more fans in the stands, the volume only intensified.
At 1:52 p.m., when the stadium PA system began announcing the starting lineup, the whistles reached their peak. Decibel levels fluctuated, with the loudest reactions reserved for Bellingham and especially Vinícius. Fede Valverde wasn’t spared either. Once the bench players’ names were read, the noise dropped noticeably. But when the anthem played, it spiked again. Some fans even brought their own whistles to amplify the protest. Chants of “Florentino resign!” also echoed through the stands.
Another wave of noise hit at halftime, when the referee blew the whistle to end a poor first 45 minutes from Madrid. The Bernabéu made its displeasure known once again.
Chants of “Gonzalo, Gonzalo”
The criticism was nearly unanimous across the squad, with a few exceptions. Raúl Asencio earned applause in the 26th minute for sliding in to stop a Levante break. And Gonzalo García, just before the half, sprinted back to break up a counterattack after a Mbappé turnover, even picking up a yellow card in the process. After booing Mbappé, the crowd rallied behind the homegrown striker, chanting his name.
In the second half, as the goals arrived - Mbappé in the 58th minute, Asencio in the 65th - the hostility gradually eased. Asencio, who was playing with a protective mask due to a broken nose, received a huge ovation when he was substituted, likely in recognition of his defensive work.
Vinícius, however, continued to draw frustration. A solo run in which he ignored open teammates led to another round of whistles. But as the match progressed, the jeers slowly gave way to applause. The introduction of young talents - Franco Mastantuono and especially Arda Güler - helped settle the atmosphere and bring the stadium back onside.
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