Vinícius left out of Real Madrid’s plans for the Clásico

Vinícius Júnior is now highly unlikely to feature in the next Clásico against Barcelona: Real Madrid has left him out of its plans for the fixture following his dismissal against Villarreal. A suspension is expected, but the disciplinary commission has yet to deliver its final decision.

Cadena COPE reports that the club expects a three-match ban. Real Madrid is nevertheless hoping to reduce it to two games by appealing. The team is due to face Sevilla before travelling to Camp Nou to play Barcelona on 25 October. Even if an appeal secured the hoped-for minimum penalty, Vinícius would still miss the Clásico, according to the radio report.

Referee Díaz de Mera’s report places the dismissal in the 73rd minute and attributes it to a pull of an opponent’s hair while the ball was in play, with neither player directly contesting possession. It also says Vinícius continued protesting loudly and approached the referee aggressively, prompting teammates to intervene and move him away. The disciplinary commission could consider those details when assessing whether to impose an additional sanction.

The prospect of his absence comes at a difficult time for Real Madrid, with Vinícius’s performances declining at the start of the season. He began on the bench against Villarreal, came on during the match and was later sent off. The club is already preparing for the Barcelona fixture without him, while seeking to reduce the length of his absence.