Vinicius Junior sent off against Villarreal, the Clasico at risk

The Brazilian Vinicius Junior was sent off against Villarreal after a VAR intervention for pulling Saliba's hair, and now he risks missing the next Clasico against Barcelona. Real Madrid won 1‑0, but the victory was marked by a controversial incident that nullified a possible second goal.

The gesture that triggered the dismissal

During a counter‑attack, Vinicius grabbed Saliba's hair before freeing himself and attempting the move towards the goal. Referee Ortiz Arias, after the VAR review, showed the red card, judging the act as violent conduct. Ortiz Arias then stated: “Vinicius, after being sent off and while still on the pitch, continued to protest my decision, shouting loudly, moving towards the area where I was with an aggressive attitude, having to be restrained by his teammates.”

Consequences and reactions

The Brazilian posted on Instagram a series of emojis that seemed to mock the refereeing decision and later apologized to the fans, adding the phrase “And who gets yellow and red is always Vinícius”. Real Madrid's post‑match comments sparked further debate: José Mourinho chose not to hold the usual press conference, fueling doubts about possible protests against the refereeing direction. Vinicius risks a suspension that could prevent him from taking the field in the most anticipated clash against Barcelona.

Vinicius apologises for Saliba's red card, doubts his form in Clasico

Before the Clasico, the Blancos will have to face Sevilla and upcoming Champions League fixtures against Roma and Leipzig, while Vinicius's disciplinary issue remains unresolved. The pressure is high, as the absence of the young striker could affect Madrid's strategy in the decisive match.

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