Maffeo's antics were met with immediate outrage from the Real Madrid squad, with Jude Bellingham stepping in to confront Maffeo directly over his behaviour. On the sidelines, Dani Ceballos joined the fray, vocally alerting the officials to what he saw as blatant play-acting. The referee, De Burgos Bengoetxea, sought to de-escalate the situation by summoning both players for a stern warning. While the matter was momentarily quelled, tensions simmered just below the surface.
As the teams headed to the tunnel at halftime, the feud took a fresh turn. Vinícius reportedly chastised Maffeo for his conduct during the first half, sparking another heated exchange. Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti quickly intervened to defend the Real Madrid star, ensuring the situation didn’t spiral further. Even after the final whistle, the animosity persisted. Maffeo was involved in a verbal altercation with Real Madrid's Raul Asencio, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to step in as a peacemaker. The experienced coach ensured tempers were kept in check as players headed off the field.