Real Madrid stars cover Ceuta shirts before late win at Elche

Real Madrid beat Elche 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner, after Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate covered up a pre-match message of support for Ceuta.

The teams walked out at the Martinez Valero in white T-shirts reading “Todos somos caballas”. The phrase translates as “We are all Ceutans”, a show of support for people in the Spanish city on the north African coast BBC Sport.

Most players wore the shirts fully. Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate wore theirs rolled up to around chest height, which hid part of the slogan.

Mbappe and Vinicius took the shirts off before the pre-match handshake. Konate kept his on for longer. The rest of the Madrid squad and the Elche players kept theirs on through the formalities.

The shirts referred to events on 30 and 31 July, when at least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta. Most swam around a border fence. At least 100 people died during the crossing, according to figures from Ceuta’s mayor.

The tribute was part of a wider initiative in Spain’s top flight, La Liga. Players at other fixtures wore the shirts as intended. Barcelona did not take part.

Madrid fans had already shown support for Ceuta on 8 September, before the Champions League tie against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. Cards featuring the city’s coat of arms were held up in the south stand. Real Madrid’s website names the Grada Fans supporters’ group as the organisers Real Madrid.

On the pitch, Madrid let a two-goal lead slip. Mbappe scored and Vinicius started. Then Madrid won it late.

Carlos Espi struck the winner in stoppage time, from an assist by Mbappe Newsday. The victory kept Madrid’s league campaign on track.

The club later published an article on its own website titled “Support shirts for Ceuta” Real Madrid. A report said Madrid has no issue with the three players over the incident Yahoo Sports.

For fans, this means two stories in one night. A dramatic late win. And a reminder that football sometimes shares the stage with events far beyond the table.