The bus of the Real Madrid team carrying the Spanish club’s squad to Anfield for the fourth final of the Champions League in the second round against Liverpool was hit by an unidentified object heading towards the stadium, which caused a window to crumble.
The coach, supplied by a UK-based company instead of the usual Madrid party bus, was left with a shattered reinforced window so sources described ESPN as a bottle being thrown from a group of fans who they saw both teams arrive at the stadium.
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Anfield security officials tried to prevent the media from filming and photographing the vehicle when it was parked within the perimeter of the stadium.
But ESPN was able to take two photographs of the damage before administrators asked them to walk away.
A Liverpool spokesman said: “We unequivocally condemn the actions that caused the Real Madrid team’s bus to be damaged during its arrival at Anfield tonight. It is totally unacceptable and shameful behavior on the part of some people.”
Emilio Butragueno, director of Institutional Relations at Real Madrid, told Spanish television channel Movistar: “It’s a shame. The truth is that it’s a shame this is happening.
“This is a party for football, Liverpool against 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 managers have apologized and now we’re going to focus on the game. “
The incident has similarities to an attack on the Manchester City team’s bus in 2018, when the coach was hit by objects and badly damaged before drawing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Anfield.
Liverpool and Madrid played a 0-0 draw at Anfield, which meant the Spaniards advanced to the semi-finals with an aggregate 3-1 victory.