Vinícius Júnior’s Red Card Overshadows Real Madrid’s Win Over Villarreal

Real Madrid beat Villarreal 1–0 at the Bernabéu on October 10, but the red card shown to Vinícius Júnior took over the aftermath.

Yan Diomande celebrates after scoring the decisive goal in Real Madrid's 1–0 victory over Villarreal.

Vinícius Júnior’s Red Card Overshadows Real Madrid’s Win Over Villarreal

Yan Diomande scored in the 62nd minute after a Federico Valverde pass, and VAR overturned an offside flag so the goal stood. Vinícius had been left out of the starting lineup and came on in the 52nd minute. Nine minutes after Diomande’s goal he finished a move that began with a run from Jude Bellingham, and Madrid appeared to lead 2–0.

VAR official Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz asked referee Isidro Díaz de Mera to review the move for possible violent conduct. Replays showed Vinícius pulling Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba by the hair at the start of the play. Díaz de Mera cancelled the goal, awarded a free kick and showed Vinícius a straight red card. Madrid held on with ten men.

Antonio Rüdiger restrains Vinícius Júnior after the Brazilian is sent off following a VAR review.

Vinícius Júnior Faces a Possible Suspension Ahead of El Clásico

The referee’s report describes the offence as pulling an opponent’s hair with the ball in play and not contested between the two players. It also says Vinícius kept shouting after the dismissal and moved toward the referee aggressively until teammates restrained him. Vinícius apologised to his teammates and the fans on social media, and Aurélien Tchouaméni told Real Madrid TV he did not understand the red card. Mourinho refused to attend his post-match press conference.

Whether Vinícius misses El Clásico is not decided. Spain’s disciplinary committee is due to meet on Wednesday. Violent conduct without injury carries a ban of one to three matches. Protesting against officials carries two to three. Depending on how the committee classifies the incidents, the total could reach four. Madrid play Sevilla next Sunday and visit Barcelona a week later, so a one-match ban would cost him only the Sevilla game. Two or more would rule him out of the Clásico.

Real Madrid Consider Alternatives if Vinícius Misses Barcelona Clash

Real Madrid face Barcelona in El Clásico as Vinícius Júnior’s potential suspension raises questions over their attacking lineup.

Madrid are third on 18 points, six behind Barcelona. If Vinícius is unavailable, Diomande is the obvious replacement after starting in his place against Villarreal. Mourinho had already left Vinícius out of the lineup after admitting the forward has struggled to find his best form this season. English-language outlets have floated moving Kylian Mbappé to the left and using Arda Güler, Brahim Díaz, Carlos Espí or Endrick.