'There's only one Madrid. We all know': Vinicius has final say as Real beat Atletico

Real Madrid forward celebrates Copa del Rey win by hitting back after an effigy of him was hung from a bridge

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. celebrates his goal during the Spanish King's Cup quarter finals soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid held at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, central Spain, 26 January 2023. EPA / Rodrigo Jimenez

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates after the final whistle. Getty Images

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema celebrate. EPA

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Copa del Rey (King's Cup), quarter final football match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on January 26, 2023. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior shoots the ball to score his side's third goal. AP Photo

Vinicius Jr reacts after a missed chance. EPA

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema heads the ball under pressure from Atletico's Geoffrey Kondogbia. EPA

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, vies for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Reinildo Mandava. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring to make it 2-1. EPA

Referee Cesar Soto shows a red card to Atletico Madrid's Stefan Savic. EPA

Real Madrid's Rodrygo celebrates scoring their first goal with Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga. Reuters

Geoffrey Kondogbia of Atletico Madrid competes for the ball with Rodrygo. Getty Images

Vinicius Junior celebrated Real Madrid's Copa del Rey quarter-final victory over Atletico Madrid on Thursday by hitting back after an effigy of him was hung from a bridge.

A dummy dressed in a Vinicius shirt was strung up near Real Madrid's training ground overnight before the game with a message reading "Madrid hates Real."

Both Real Madrid and Atletico, as well as La Liga and the Spanish football federation, condemned the incident; Real described the effigy as a "disgusting act of racism, xenophobia and hatred" while coach Carlo Ancelotti said it was "very regrettable".

"There's only one Madrid. We all know," Brazil international Vinicius wrote on Twitter after his side eliminated their city rivals to reach the semi-finals.

The forward drifted in and out of the match but netted at the end of extra-time to secure a 3-1 win for his team at the Bernabeu. "I think the goal was his reward for his great work," Ancelotti told a press conference.

The spiky, gripping derby clash turned against Diego Simeone's side in extra time when defender Stefan Savic was sent off.

Atletico took the lead through Alvaro Morata after 19 minutes but Rodrygo's sensational slalom run past three defenders and slick finish pulled Madrid level with 11 minutes remaining.

After Savic's 99th minute red card, Karim Benzema tucked home from Marco Asensio's pass and Vinicius netted at the death to send Los Blancos through to the final four for the first time since 2019.

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team's third goal. AFP

"Today we had a very difficult game but with the character and the players that we have, we were able to turn it around," Benzema told Teledeporte.

"Suffering is not good — we have to score the goals earlier."

Atletico players claimed that Real midfielder Dani Ceballos should have been sent off earlier when he fouled Geoffrey Kondogbia while on a yellow card.

"I think it was a red [for Savic], but they should have had one too when we were 1-0 up," complained Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

"They could have had a second yellow but [the referee] decided it how he decided, we are used to that, and it's complicated, but the team fought to the end, we did everything to score."

Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone. EPA

Despite their improving performances, the rest of Atletico's season is looking barren, given they were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage and are 13 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, having played a game more.

"We are out of Europe and now the cup, the team has the second half of the season ahead of them to try and qualify for the Champions League, that's the objective the club needs," said Simeone, who cast some doubt on his future.

The Argentine coach has been at the club since 2011 and has a contract until 2024.

"After that, calmly, we will look at what is convenient for everyone," he continued.

"Being at Atletico gives me enormous joy, I will give 1,000 percent until the day that I leave."

Earlier Athletic Bilbao won 3-1 at Valencia to join record 31-time winners Barcelona and Osasuna in Monday's semi-final draw.