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Mourinho’s Real face Barcelona after Vinícius ban

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 11:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Vinícius Banned

Vinícius Júnior received a four-match LaLiga ban after a red card for pulling an opponent’s hair on 10 October.
The ban forces him to miss the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona, his second consecutive absence.
Fans whistled at Vinícius during the 4-1 win over RB Leipzig, a reaction Mourinho called hurtful.
Yan Diomande, signed for a potential €140 million ($189 m) fee, replaced Vinícius and scored a volley.

Summary

Mourinho Reappointed

Real Madrid, led by José Mourinho (coach), will play Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday.
President Florentino Pérez reappointed Mourinho to end Madrid's two-season trophy drought.
Barcelona have won all nine league games, sitting six points ahead of Real.
Barcelona also promoted two academy players.
Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (signed from Arsenal in September) will debut for Barcelona.

Summary

Mourinho Flags Fatigue

Mourinho warned that Real Madrid’s 24-hour shorter recovery than Barcelona could weaken their defence before the Clasico.
He noted Real have kept only two clean sheets in their first twelve matches across all competitions.
Mourinho linked Leipzig’s conceded goal to a similar lapse in the 4-1 Sevilla win, blaming overconfidence.
Observers said defender Dean Huijsen was out of position during both defensive errors.

History

Historical Context

LaLiga’s tough disciplinary trend dates back to Sergio Ramos’s four-match ban in January 2013 after a Copa del Rey red card, part of his record 20 red cards for Real Madrid. That precedent frames Vinícius Júnior’s recent four-match suspension, which José Mourinho cites to ensure consistent enforcement ahead of the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona.

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Vinícius Banned

Vinícius Júnior received a four-match LaLiga ban after a red card for pulling an opponent’s hair on 10 October.
The ban forces him to miss the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona, his second consecutive absence.
Fans whistled at Vinícius during the 4-1 win over RB Leipzig, a reaction Mourinho called hurtful.
Yan Diomande, signed for a potential €140 million ($189 m) fee, replaced Vinícius and scored a volley.

1 / 4