Bernabéu Disciplinary Fallout Leaves Real Madrid Short
Vinicius Júnior will miss Real Madrid’s LaLiga fixture against FC Barcelona on Sunday, October 25, 2026. He is currently serving the second match of a four-game domestic suspension following a red card against Villarreal.
The absence of the Brazilian forward removes one of the fiercest competitive sparks from European football’s most high-profile rivalry. Real Madrid travels to face an undefeated Barcelona side holding a six-point advantage in the league table.
Vinicius Receives Red Card for Pulling Player Hair
The disciplinary action stems from an incident on October 10, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabéu. During a 2-0 victory where Vinicius scored the second goal in the 70th minute, video assistant referee reviews caught him pulling the hair of Villarreal player Nathan Saliba during the run of play. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera issued a straight red card after reviewing the monitor.
Unsuccessful Appeals and Domestic Matches Missed
Real Madrid filed an appeal with the Appeals Committee, which was rejected on October 16, 2026. The club subsequently took the case to the Administrative Sports Tribunal in an effort to reduce the penalty.
The suspension applies strictly to domestic league fixtures. The forward has already missed the October 18 match against Sevilla and must also sit out upcoming league encounters against Racing de Santander on November 1 and Valencia on November 7.
Vinicius Remains Eligible for Champions League Fixture
While sidelined domestically, Vinicius remains fully eligible for continental competition. Manager José Mourinho confirmed that the forward will start in the UEFA Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Training normally alongside his teammates through the week, the Brazilian returns to competitive action on the European stage. He is set to return to LaLiga duty against Celta de Vigo on the weekend of November 21 and 22, assuming the disciplinary ruling remains unadjusted.
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