Sevilla winger Vitolo admitted to trying unsuccessfully to unsettle Cristiano Ronaldo before the Real Madrid star took a penalty in Sunday's La Liga game at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Vitolo is facing a month on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the game, with Sevilla saying tests revealed a strain to his right hamstring. The 27-year-old is expected to miss three to four weeks with the problem.
After Madrid were awarded a spot-kick with the score at 0-0 midway through the second half, Vitolo provocatively stepped right on top of the penalty spot, moving some of the turf around just as Ronaldo was preparing to place the ball.
The Portugal captain reacted by throwing the ball at Vitolo and hitting him on the back, with the pair squaring up before players from both sides rushed in to forcefully exchange views.
�� Vitolo: "El espíritu de este equipo va más allá del juego. Jugamos con todo, tenemos alma y tiramos de corazón". #SevillaFCRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/k0p2TyFbeI
- LaLiga (@LaLiga) January 15, 2017
Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez quickly restored order, without showing any yellow cards, and Ronaldo proceeded to expertly dispatch the penalty and put his side ahead.
Speaking after his side had turned the game around late on to win 2-1 and end Madrid's record 40-game unbeaten run, the Spain winger said on Movistar TV that his plan had been to try and ruffle Ronaldo's composure but the attempt had not worked.
"These things happen in football," Vitolo said. "I tried to throw off Cristiano's concentration a bit, as he is [a] very good [penalty taker]. It did not work though as he scored it. You try anything [to win]."