The Valencia goalkeeper won a €50 bet with Vinicius after saving a penalty.

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili added an unexpected layer of intrigue to his team’s recent 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, revealing a pre-match bet with Vinícius Júnior concerning the Brazilian’s first-half penalty.

Following the penalty awarded to Real Madrid in the 13th minute, Mamardashvili proposed a wager of €50 to Vinícius, predicting he would save the spot-kick. The Georgian goalkeeper subsequently fulfilled his prediction, diving to his right to deny Vinícius the opening goal.

While Vinícius did find the net later in the match, Valencia ultimately secured the win thanks to a late goal from Hugo Duro. Post-match, Mamardashvili humorously noted, “I had a conversation with Vinicius, and I won €50. He ought to pay me, but he hasn’t yet.”

Beyond the lighthearted wager, Mamardashvili’s performance was a crucial factor in Valencia’s triumph, with several key saves contributing significantly to their victory. The penalty save, however, adds a memorable anecdote to a game already rich in narrative.