The bus of the Real Madrid team transporting the Spanish club’s team to Anfield for the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Liverpool was hit by an unidentified object on the way to the stadium, resulting in a broken window.
The coach, provided by a UK company, rather than the regular bus in Madrid, was left with a reinforced window that was shattered by what sources described ESPN as a bottle thrown from a group of supporters watching the two teams arriving at the stadium.
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Security officials at Anfield tried to prevent the media from filming and photographing the vehicle when it was parked on the perimeter of the stadium.
But ESPN managed to take two photos of the damage before being asked to leave by the administrators.
A Liverpool spokesman said: “We unequivocally condemn the actions that led to the damage to the Real Madrid bus during his arrival at Anfield tonight. It is a totally unacceptable and shameful behavior of several people.”
Emilio Butragueno, Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, told Spanish television station Movistar: “It’s a shame. The truth is that it is a pity that this happened.
“This is a football party, Liverpool vs. Real Madrid, it’s one of the best games a fan can see. It’s a shame. The relationship between the clubs is very good, the Liverpool directors have apologized, and now we we will focus on the game. “
The incident resembles an attack on Manchester City’s bus in 2018, when the coach was hit by objects and severely damaged before a draw in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Anfield.
Liverpool and Madrid played 0-0 at Anfield, which meant that the Spanish team progressed in the semifinals with a total victory of 3-1.