Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr was shown a straight red card for pulling the hair of a Villarreal player in their LaLiga encounter. The Brazil international featured off the bench for Los Blancos as they claimed a narrow 1-0 win at the Bernabeu.
Fresh from facing criticism for his struggles for Brazil, Vinicius Jr was introduced into the game on home soil after 52 minutes. He had played for 19 minutes when he fired home what looked like his second goal of the season, only for the VAR to intervene.
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They ruled that the 26-year-old had committed a foul in the build-up to the goal, ruling it out. A closer look at replays showed that he had grabbed a fistful of Nathan Saliba’s hair as they tussled, and the referee showed him a straight red card with this new information.
Jose Mourinho named Vinicius Jr among the substitutes, with club-record signing Yan Diomande named in the starting line-up, instead. The Brazilian played for just 19 minutes before his sending off, and was incensed with the referee for showing him the red card.
It took the intervention of Antonio Rudiger to end the forward’s confrontation of the referee, and he made his way down the tunnel afterward. The red card did not matter, ultimately, as Los Blancos held on to claim a vital win and keep in touch with rivals Barcelona.
Vinicius Jr sees red as Real Madrid claim narrow win over Villarreal
Vinicius Jr was almost the villain for Real Madrid as they picked up a narrow 1-0 win over Villarreal in LaLiga. Los Blancos returned to winning ways in the league, having lost their last game before the international break against neighbours Atletico Madrid.
Jose Mourinho started the Brazilian on the bench in favour of testing something new, and it worked to perfection for his side. Cote d’Ivoire international Yan Diomande was preferred from the start, and he scored his first goal for the club in the 62nd minute. The teenager fired home from inside the box after captain Federico Valverde set him up.
Nine minutes later, Vinicius Jr fired home from a Jude Bellingham cutback, only for the goal to be disallowed and the player sent off for pulling the hair of an opponent. Villarreal pushed hard for an equaliser but did not manage to get one, despite multiple attempts. The win moved Real Madrid up to third, back to within six points of rivals Barcelona.
Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen