Chaos at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu puts El Clásico against Barça on shaky ground
Real Madrid versus Villarreal turned into a massive mess on Saturday evening, with the chaos at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu so great that serious consequences are expected for the upcoming El Clásico against FC Barcelona.
Deceptive incident involving Vinícius Junior
The Brazilian left‑winger Vinícius Junior, under fire this season at Real for underperforming, seemed set to claim the 2‑0. However, the VAR discovered that he pulled opponent Nathan Saliba of Villarreal by the hair, an offence that according to the rules requires a red card. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera therefore had to send Junior off the field.
Mourinho refuses press conference after 1‑0 win
After the 1‑0 victory, José Mourinho, nicknamed “The Special One”, decided not to speak to the press after the match. He was quoted with the words: “I want to sit on the bench against Sevilla and Barcelona.” Even on Real Madrid TV he was absent. The newspaper reports that Junior can expect a suspension of at least two matches, meaning he will not be available for the El Clásico.
According to LaLiga regulations, the coach must always appear at the press conference after a match. Mourinho’s refusal could therefore have additional consequences for his position at Real Madrid.
The absence of both Mourinho and Vinícius Junior could lead to a “completely stripped-down” classic between arch‑rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. In the past, Mourinho’s presence resulted in voyeuristic footage, such as the incident with the late Tito Vilanova at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid still has three duels to play before the clash with Barcelona is on the agenda: a Champions‑League match against Roma, a home game against Sevilla and then a Champions‑League duel against RB Leipzig. The El Clásico itself is scheduled for Sunday 25 October at 21:00 at the Camp Nou.