Vinicius Jr. just got slammed with a four-game suspension from La Liga, and yeah, that means Real Madrid is going into El Clasico against Barcelona without their star forward. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist, it’s a huge blow for Madrid, especially with how rocky his season has been so far.
Vini’s Hair-Pull Heard ‘Round the League
The ban came down hard after Vini was sent off against Villarreal in La Liga play. Usually, violent conduct nets you a three-match minimum, but La Liga tacked on an extra game because Vini straight up pulled Canadian midfielder Nathan Saliba’s hair during their October 10 match! The VAR review wasn’t just about the red card, either. It actually nullified a goal Vini scored moments after the incident, a goal the ref missed initially. Talk about going from hero to zero in an instant.
This four-game knockout means Vini is out for the big one against Barcelona on Sunday, October 25, at Camp Nou. That’s a brutal miss for such a high-stakes game. He’ll also miss the clashes against Sevilla on October 18, Racing Santander on November 1, and Valencia on November 7. The only silver lining for Madrid fans? He will be available for Champions League games sprinkled in there, like against RB Leipzig on October 21 and AEK Athens on November 4. So at least he can play *some* soccer.
From “Special One” to Special Mess for Vini?
This whole disciplinary nightmare just adds to the head-scratching season Vinicius Jr. has been having. Remember that big contract extension after the brief negotiation standoff this past summer? Madrid might be regretting that already. The guy has only one goal and four total goal contributions across 10 matches this season. That’s not the Vini we know.
It got even worse in their Champions League match against Roma. Knowing he had this huge La Liga suspension looming, you’d think he’d go all out, right? Nope. He was a complete mess in Italy, starting the match but getting yanked by manager Jose Mourinho a mere 59 minutes in. In those 59 minutes, Vini couldn’t even get off a shot, created only one chance, and completed just two passes into the final third. Meanwhile, Mourinho’s first season at Madrid has been full of those classic sharp ups and downs. They did pull off a stunning comeback win against Roma on the road, turning around a two-goal deficit, but Vini was completely left out of that turnaround.
Madrid is currently sitting fourth in the La Liga table, a point behind Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, but a full six points back of leaders Barcelona. They’ve won their first two Champions League games, sure, but “not without plenty of drama.” Losing Vini for these crucial league matches, especially El Clasico, is just another layer of that drama.
What’s next? Vinicius Jr. will be back on the field for the Champions League game against RB Leipzig on October 21. But for La Liga, Madrid has to figure out how to navigate without him, starting with Sevilla this Sunday, October 18. Going into El Clasico without Vini is a massive challenge. Will they step up, or will Barcelona widen that six-point gap even more? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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