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For a brief moment, the burden was lifted.
Vinícius Júnior's finish was straightforward. The Brazilian has scored more spectacular and memorable goals, but his close-range effort against Villarreal felt like a much-needed emotional release. Nine matches and six weeks had gone by since he last scored from open play.
His slump hasn't just been a cause for concern for club and country — the sheer scale of his struggles at the start of the 2026–27 campaign has even sparked outlandish conspiracy theories about a possible body double. Seriously.
Viní's moment of relief against the Yellow Submarine would quickly turn into a bitter false dawn. Shortly afterward, referee Isidro Díaz de Mera was called to the monitor, with the nature of the infringement initially uncertain. There was no offside, but Real Madrid's goalscorer had instead drawn scrutiny over a potential sending-off.
The fourth red card of Vinícius Jr's senior career duly followed, wiping out his goal and immediately casting doubt over his availability for the first Clásico of 2026–27.
Will Vinícius Júnior Miss El Clásico?
That's the key question, and the referee's match report will be crucial. De Mera has indicated that Vinícius Jr's red card stemmed from an off-ball incident, which means he's likely to face more than the standard one-match ban.
According to Spanish outlet COPE, Madrid are bracing for Vinícius Jr to serve a three-game suspension, meaning he'll miss the trip to Catalonia on Oct. 25.
He'll also be absent for next week's fixture against Sevilla and the match against Racing Santander in early November. The winger will, however, remain eligible for Madrid's upcoming Champions League games against Roma and RB Leipzig, as domestic bans do not extend to European competition.
Madrid could lodge an appeal, but it seems unlikely that Vinícius Jr's ban would be cut to just one game. In May, Mallorca's Johan Mojica received a two-match suspension for pulling Roger Brugue's hair.
All signs suggest that José Mourinho will be without his out-of-form Brazilian forward for the season's first Clásico. For some Madrid fans, that might not be the worst outcome — particularly after Yan Diomande netted his first goal for the club in Saturday's win.
Real Madrid's Upcoming La Liga Fixtures
Why Was Vinícius Júnior Sent Off vs. Villarreal?
After laying the ball off to Jude Bellingham on the halfway line, Vinícius Jr made a long run into the Villarreal box and converted what he believed was his first goal since Madrid's 4–1 win over Real Sociedad on Aug. 26.
However, just before that run, the Brazilian had pulled the hair of Villarreal substitute Nathan Saliba while attempting to get past him. Saliba's head snapped back momentarily, though he didn't make a scene. The incident was picked up by the video assistant referee.
Under Law 12 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, pulling an opponent's hair is classified as violent conduct, which carries an automatic straight red card.
Such a punishment can seem severe — most notably when Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez was dismissed against Leeds United in April — but Vinícius Jr, despite his vocal protests, had little grounds for complaint.
Madrid's No. 7 later issued an apology on social media, writing: "The joy goes on. My apologies to my teammates and the supporters."