Real Madrid superstar will miss Barcelona clash after red card as potential four-match ban looms

Real Madrid could be without Vinicius Junior for their upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona after the Brazilian winger was sent off during their 1-0 victory over Villarreal in La Liga.

According to a report by Madrid Universal on Sunday, 11 October 2026, Vinicius is facing a potential suspension of up to four matches following an incident involving Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba and his subsequent reaction to the referee.

The incident occurred in the 71st minute when Vinicius allegedly pulled Saliba’s hair while the ball was in play.

Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera initially allowed the game to continue but later showed the Brazilian a straight red card after reviewing the incident following a VAR recommendation.

According to the report, the referee’s official account of the incident could leave Vinicius facing disciplinary action for both his conduct towards an opponent and his behaviour after the dismissal.

The classification of the hair-pulling incident under Article 130 of Spain’s disciplinary regulations could result in a suspension of one to three matches, depending on the committee’s assessment.

Vinicius could also face an additional punishment over his reaction to the dismissal. The referee reportedly stated that the winger continued protesting loudly and approached him aggressively, forcing his team-mates to restrain him.

The disciplinary committee is expected to consider the case on Wednesday, with the final decision likely to determine the number of matches the forward will miss.

A two-match suspension would be enough to rule Vinicius out of the October 25 meeting with Barcelona, although the length of his potential ban remains unconfirmed.

His possible absence would present a selection challenge for Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, particularly given the Brazilian’s ability to exploit spaces behind opposing defences.

Vinicius did not start against Villarreal, with Yan Diomande featuring on the left wing and scoring the decisive goal.

Should the Brazilian be unavailable for the Clasico, Diomande and Arda Guler could be given greater responsibility in Madrid’s attack.

Despite his inconsistent start to the season, Vinicius remains an important attacking option for the Spanish giants.

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