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Real Madrid host Valencia this weekend at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The match will be the first between the clubs since the game at the Mestalla stadium back in May, which led to a stand closed after fans racially abused Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr.

Valencia coach Ruben Baraja has hailed Vinicius Jr ahead of the game, but also defended Valencia as a non-racist club.

“A small part of Mestalla uttered racist insults, but we cannot accept that all Valencians are called racists. This issue now has to end and we must focus on the sporting issue,” Baraja said.

“Vinicius is a great, world-class player.

“We had to defend ourselves from unpleasant things but we have served our punishment and turned the page. I am not going to give it more importance than I think it has.

“It seems like there is fire around the game, but we are not in that. We try to compete, despite the fact that there are specific actions in which you can exceed, like Paulista last year.

“Tomorrow I hope that the two fans respect each other, because the Valencia fans have historically shown that wherever they go they usually do so in an exemplary manner.”