Real Madrid had a controversy-ridden game against Villarreal in La Liga, where the refereeing overshadowed the football.
Los Blancos secured a 1-0 victory in that game, but all the post-match conversation has been about the red card given to Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid now face the prospect of losing the Brazilian superstar for the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona.
According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Vinicius is expected to receive a suspension of at least two matches, with a third match potentially added.
The reason for this lengthy suspension has been described as his “aggressive attitude” during his reaction to the red card.
Vinicius faces additional punishment
The incident occurred during Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal, when Vinicius pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair in the build-up to a goal.
VAR intervened, the goal was disallowed, and the Brazilian was shown a straight red card. However, the consequences may extend beyond the original offence.
Vinicius Jr. is facing a potential three-match suspension. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
His reaction to the referee’s decision was less than desirable, and Vinicius’ teammates had to drag him away before the situation escalated.
A two-match suspension would already rule Vinicius out of Madrid’s league fixtures against Sevilla and Barcelona over the next two weekends.
A third match would extend his absence further, creating another selection problem for Jose Mourinho.
The punishment has not yet been confirmed, and it had been revealed earlier that Madrid are considering appealing its severity in a bid to reduce the ban.
Madrid must separate the offence from the reaction
Real Madrid have two distinct issues to consider here.
The first is the actual incident involving Saliba, which prompted VAR intervention and the dismissal.
The second is whether Vinicius’ subsequent behaviour warrants an additional match or two being added to the suspension.
Madrid felt aggrieved by the foul in the first place, not agreeing that Vinicius made a conscious attempt to grab Saliba’s hair.
However, the rules clearly state that such a situation should always be a red card, and there is not a leg for Los Blancos to stand on here.
As for Vinicius’ reaction, the Brazilian let his frustration out after the card was shown and should do better to rein it in during such situations.
Mourinho faces an important tactical decision
With Vinicius increasingly unlikely to feature against Barcelona, Mourinho cannot afford to wait for the appeal process before making his plans.
Jose Mourinho has important tactical decisions to make ahead of the Barcelona game. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Yan Diomande’s winning goal against Villarreal has strengthened his case for more minutes, but replacing Vinicius involves more than finding another quick winger.
Vinicius regularly forces opponents to defend deeper, creating space for Mbappe and Madrid’s midfield runners.
Without that threat, Mourinho may need greater movement between the lines from Arda Guler and more support from someone like Marc Cucurella.
Whether it is two matches or three, the Clasico seems unlikely for Vinicius, and it remains to be seen how Mourinho sets his team up against Barcelona next week.