LaLiga: Vinicius Jr facing ban for El Clasico after red card against Villarreal

According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday October 11, 2026, Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is facing the possibility of missing the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona after receiving a straight red card in his team’s LaLiga clash with Villarreal on Saturday night.

According to Daily Post Nigeria, the Brazilian international was sent off following an incident involving Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba, which was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Vinicius was introduced as a second-half substitute after Yan Diomande had given Real Madrid the lead in the encounter.

The 26-year-old subsequently thought he had doubled his team’s advantage, but his involvement in an off-the-ball incident changed the course of the match.

The Brazilian was accused of pulling Saliba’s hair, prompting referee Isidro Diaz de Mera to review the incident on the VAR monitor before showing him a straight red card.

Vinicius reacted with disbelief and strongly protested the decision as he made his way off the pitch. His Real Madrid teammates reportedly had to intervene and pull him away as he continued to express his frustration.

The dismissal has raised concerns over his availability for Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures, particularly the highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on October 25.

Although Vinicius is certain to miss Real Madrid’s next match against Sevilla, the length of his suspension has yet to be confirmed.

His punishment will depend on the referee’s report and the subsequent decision of the relevant disciplinary authorities.

A suspension extending to the Barcelona encounter would represent a significant setback for Real Madrid, given Vinicius’s importance to their attacking play.

The Brazilian is known for his pace, dribbling ability and capacity to create scoring opportunities, qualities that could prove crucial in a match against their fierce rivals.

Real Madrid will therefore be hoping that the disciplinary decision does not rule him out of the showdown with Barcelona.

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