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Why is Vinicius Junior not playing in Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clasico game?
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- Why is Vinicius Junior not playing in Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clasico game?
Vinicius Junior's absence leaves Real Madrid without one of their biggest attacking threats for Sunday's El Clasico, as the Spanish giants look to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona. The Brazilian forward will miss the soccer game at Spotify Camp Nou while serving a four-match suspension.
The suspension also comes as Yan Diomande makes a strong case for more opportunities in Madrid's attack. The Ivorian winger has impressed in recent appearances, raising questions about whether he could challenge Vinicius for a starting place once the Brazilian returns.
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Why is Vinicius Junior suspended against Barcelona?
Real Madrid C.F. forward Vinicius Junior. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Vinicius was sent off during Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Oct 10 after pulling Nathan Saliba's hair. The Brazilian initially appeared to score Madrid's second goal, but VAR ruled it out after reviewing the incident, and he received a straight red card.
The punishment ruled Vinicius out of Madrid's 4-1 victory over Sevilla on Oct 18 and Sunday's El Clasico. He will also miss the league fixtures against Racing Santander and Valencia, with his return to domestic action expected after the November international break.
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Is Vinicius Junior's position at Real Madrid under threat?
Yan Diomande's recent performances have created a separate selection question for Madrid.
Diomande delivered an impressive performance against Sevilla. He created a goal and scored the fourth himself. He followed that display with a stunning goal against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Vinicius, meanwhile, has struggled to find consistent form early in the 2026-27 season. Before the Villarreal match, he had scored once in his previous nine club appearances.
The Barcelona vs. Real Madrid El Clasico is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Spotify Camp Nou.
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