Vinicius Junior is digging himself a hole at Real Madrid he may not be able to get out of

Share on XShare on RedditCopy ArticleAdd us as a preferred sourceReal Madrid v Villarreal CF – LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 | Quality Sport Images/GettyImagesReal Madrid barely scraped past Villarreal 1-0 at the Bernabeu after their return to footballing action on Saturday. Real Madrid did not play a single game for three weeks and then had to play a really tough Villarreal side, which they just about managed to beat, but that wasn't the story of the game.

Real Madrid barely scraped past Villarreal 1-0 at the Bernabeu after their return to footballing action on Saturday. Real Madrid did not play a single game for three weeks and then had to play a really tough Villarreal side, which they just about managed to beat, but that wasn't the story of the game.

The story was, as always, centred around Vinicius Junior being involved in trouble. Vinicius Junior was a substitute in the game against Villarreal, and he came on in the second half for Trans Alexander-Arnold to provide the team with some spark in the attack. That's what he was supposed to do, and initially, he did score a goal. The goal was disallowed because of his idiotic red card for pulling a Villarreal player's hair, and that was the end of the night for the Brazilian.

The story was, as always, centred around Vinicius Junior being involved in trouble. Vinicius Junior was a substitute in the game against Villarreal, and he came on in the second half for Trans Alexander-Arnold to provide the team with some spark in the attack. That's what he was supposed to do, and initially, he did score a goal. The goal was disallowed because of his idiotic red card for pulling a Villarreal player's hair, and that was the end of the night for the Brazilian.

Now, you can criticise the referee all you want, but the truth is that it was a red card. Even if it was accidental, which newer angles have shown, it is still a red card because the same punishment of a red card should be given either way.

Now, you can criticise the referee all you want, but the truth is that it was a red card. Even if it was accidental, which newer angles have shown, it is still a red card because the same punishment of a red card should be given either way.

Just because something has not been given at times in the past does not mean that this was not a red card. Vinicius Junior put Real Madrid in a very weird position after the red card because it left them with 10 men, with just the one-goal lead that they had going into the last few minutes.

Just because something has not been given at times in the past does not mean that this was not a red card. Vinicius Junior put Real Madrid in a very weird position after the red card because it left them with 10 men, with just the one-goal lead that they had going into the last few minutes.

Fortunately, Thibaut Courtois was once again majestic between the sticks. He defended every single shot that came towards him and ultimately kept the clean sheet against the Yellow Submarine, but that does not tell the whole story.

Fortunately, Thibaut Courtois was once again majestic between the sticks. He defended every single shot that came towards him and ultimately kept the clean sheet against the Yellow Submarine, but that does not tell the whole story.

Vinicius Junior is actively digging himself a hole that is too difficult to come out of. He has had a terrible start to the season, scoring just one goal in the eight games he has played so far. He has now got a red card, which will reportedly rule him out for the Clasico later this month.

Vinicius Junior is actively digging himself a hole that is too difficult to come out of. He has had a terrible start to the season, scoring just one goal in the eight games he has played so far. He has now got a red card, which will reportedly rule him out for the Clasico later this month.

To make matters slightly worse for him, he is still not playing as well as his teammates in attack. Even Yan Diomande, who hasn't had the best start to the season, was still a better player than Vinicius Junior on Saturday.

To make matters slightly worse for him, he is still not playing as well as his teammates in attack. Even Yan Diomande, who hasn't had the best start to the season, was still a better player than Vinicius Junior on Saturday.

The hope was that Vinicius Junior would score a goal and his confidence would come back to normal once again, and that would be the end of that. However, that is not the story anymore because Vinicius Junior has taken yet another blip in his form and confidence with this red card.

The hope was that Vinicius Junior would score a goal and his confidence would come back to normal once again, and that would be the end of that. However, that is not the story anymore because Vinicius Junior has taken yet another blip in his form and confidence with this red card.

On the one hand, it could fuel him to have a better game the next time he plays, but given the fact that he has not performed well all season, chances are that he will underperform the next time he plays once again. It is a really difficult situation for him to be in, but unfortunately, being out of shape, not being sharp two months into the season, and just having one of the worst apparent fall-offs in his recent history will have its obvious side effects. Vinicius Junior is currently feeling all of them at once.

On the one hand, it could fuel him to have a better game the next time he plays, but given the fact that he has not performed well all season, chances are that he will underperform the next time he plays once again. It is a really difficult situation for him to be in, but unfortunately, being out of shape, not being sharp two months into the season, and just having one of the worst apparent fall-offs in his recent history will have its obvious side effects. Vinicius Junior is currently feeling all of them at once.

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