MADRID - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti sought to calm the waters around their highly anticipated match at Valencia on Saturday, when his team will return to a stadium where Brazil winger Vinicius Jr was racially abused last year.

Anticipating a fiery atmosphere, Spanish authorities declared the match 'high risk' and ordered police reinforcements. It will be the first time Real and 23-year-old Vinicius have been back to Mestalla since May 2023, when racist slurs were allegedly hurled at the Brazilian.