Tchouameni strikes young fan during Real Madrid win, later signs shirt for him

Aurelien Tchouameni's powerful shot struck a young spectator during Real Madrid's LaLiga match against Racing Santander on Sunday, and the midfielder later met the child and signed a Real Madrid shirt for him; Real Madrid won 3-0.

The supporter, who appeared to be less than 10 years old, was left in tears after being hit by the ball but was brought into a positive post-match experience when Tchouameni met him near the dressing room. Kylian Mbappe also stopped to see the child and joked, "It's Tchouameni's fault, he doesn't know how to shoot," helping to lighten the moment as the boy received a signed shirt and encounters with several of Real Madrid's biggest stars.

Real took the lead in the 11th minute when Mbappe converted a penalty to give the visitors an early advantage. Mbappe then combined with Arda Guler to release Jude Bellingham, who rounded Racing goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala and rolled the ball into an empty net in the 21st minute.

Yan Diomande added a third nine minutes before half-time, smashing a bouncing ball into the top corner to complete an impressive first-half display. The Ivorian's goal took his tally to four goals and three assists in his last six appearances.

Racing offered some resistance after the interval but struggled to trouble Real; the hosts were limited to just one shot on target. Mbappe came close to extending the lead in the 60th minute when his effort struck the post.

The 3-0 victory was Real Madrid's sixth consecutive win in all competitions and moved Jose Mourinho's side to within three points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona and second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Racing remained 16th, one point above the relegation zone. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returned to the side after missing the previous week's match through illness.

Mourinho praised the defensive work of his attacking players, saying: "When more attack-minded players put in the hard, sacrificial work, it sends a positive message to the rest of the team." He added: "I've come to understand things that I didn't grasp on the first day; the players have a better understanding of my character. They understand what is non-negotiable for me. There's a good human connection between the players and the coach. We're in a good place."

Real Madrid will next travel to Greece to face AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday.