Real Madrid are preparing for one of their biggest games of the season, but a disciplinary decision has created a problem for José Mourinho. Vinícius Júnior will miss the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona. His absence has raised questions about Real Madrid’s attacking plans and the incident that led to his suspension.

The Brazilian forward received the punishment after a controversial incident during Real Madrid’s recent LaLiga match against Villarreal. What started as a goal celebration soon turned into a major disciplinary issue. The decision will now keep Vinícius out of several important matches, including Real Madrid’s first meeting with Barcelona this season.

What Happened Between Vinícius Júnior and Villarreal?

Real Madrid faced Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 10 and won 1-0. However, an incident involving Vinícius and Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba took the attention away from the result.

Vinícius came on as a second-half substitute. He later thought he had scored Real Madrid’s second goal. Manager José Mourinho even joined the celebrations before VAR changed the situation.

The video review showed Vinícius pulling Saliba’s hair during the attacking move. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera checked the footage, disallowed the goal and gave Vinícius a direct red card.

The incident attracted attention because Vinícius pulled Saliba’s hair away from a direct contest for the ball. Villarreal defender Juan Foyth also agreed that the referee made the right decision to show a red card. However, he did not think Vinícius wanted to hurt his teammate.

Why Did Vinícius Junior Receive a Four-Match Suspension?

The red card was not the only problem for Vinícius. He also argued angrily with the referee after the decision. His reaction led to a longer suspension.

According to the Spanish news agency EFE, the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee gave him a four-match ban. The committee gave him two matches for pulling Saliba’s hair and another two for protesting against the referee.

The committee used Article 130.2 of the federation’s disciplinary rules to punish the hair-pulling incident. This rule covers violent actions outside a genuine contest for the ball. The committee used Article 127 to punish his protests against the match official.

The referee’s report said Vinícius protested aggressively after receiving the red card. His teammates had to hold him back as he continued to argue with the official.

Real Madrid tried to challenge the punishment, but the committee rejected the club’s arguments. It found that the video evidence supported the referee’s report. It also rejected the club’s claim that the contact could count as accidental.

EFE also explained that the committee treated Vinícius’s protests as a separate offence from the hair-pulling incident.

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Which Matches Will Vinícius Junior Miss?

Vinícius Junior would miss four LaLiga matches. Real Madrid will face Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia during his suspension.

The biggest blow for Real Madrid will come on October 25, when they face Barcelona away from home. Vinícius will also miss the league matches against Sevilla on October 18, Racing Santander on November 1, and Valencia on November 7.

However, the ban only covers domestic league matches. Vinícius can still play in Real Madrid’s Champions League matches, as long as he remains available for selection and faces no separate disciplinary action.

This means Real Madrid will not lose his services in every competition during the suspension.

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Did Vinícius Apologise, and Can Real Madrid Appeal?

Vinícius Junior apologised to his teammates and Real Madrid fans after the Villarreal match. He shared a message on social media and expressed regret over the incident and its impact.

However, his apology did not stop the committee from handing him a suspension. The committee based its decision on the incident, the referee’s report, and the federation’s rules.

Real Madrid failed to overturn the original decision and considered another appeal to reduce the ban. The club had hoped that the authorities would give Vinícius a shorter suspension.

However, another appeal would not automatically allow Vinícius to play against Barcelona. The authorities would need to change the decision before El Clásico for him to have a chance of playing.

How Will Vinícius’s Absence Affect Real Madrid?

Real Madrid will miss more than just a forward when Vinícius sits out. He uses his pace to beat defenders, create chances, and attack open spaces during counterattacks.

These skills could prove important against Barcelona. Barcelona often keep the ball and push their defensive line forward. Vinícius can use his speed to run into the space behind their defenders and create scoring chances.

Without him, Mourinho may start another winger or change Real Madrid’s attacking plan. The team can still create chances through its other forwards, midfield runners and quick attacks. However, the replacement will need to bring a different mix of pace, creativity and direct attacking play.

The league standings make this match even more important. Barcelona had a six-point lead over Real Madrid when the news agency published its report on October 14.

That gap makes the upcoming El Clásico a big game for both teams. A win could help Real Madrid reduce the difference, while Barcelona will want to protect its lead.

However, Vinícius’s absence does not automatically make Barcelona the favourites. Real Madrid still have other attacking players who can make a difference. The result will depend on how both teams play, defend and use their chances.

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A Costly Lesson for Vinícius

Vinícius’s suspension shows how one incident can affect a player for several matches. Pulling Saliba’s hair led to his red card, while his protests against the referee brought an additional punishment.

Real Madrid must now find a way to attack without one of their key players. Mourinho will need to choose the right replacement and prepare a plan that can trouble Barcelona.

Vinícius must also learn to control his reaction when a referee decides against him. As a senior player, he needs to understand how his actions can affect both himself and his team.

His absence will change the build-up to El Clásico, but it will not decide the result on its own. Real Madrid still has the players to challenge Barcelona, but they must find a way to create chances without the Brazilian forward.

Can Real Madrid get a result against Barcelona without Vinícius Júnior? Or will his suspension hurt their chances in the title race?

Let us know what your thoughts are in the comment section. 

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