Bad news for Vinicius Junior after Salzburg (5-1)—his January is effectively over!
Vinicius Junior, who scored twice against RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday, will be sidelined for the rest of Real Madrid’s January fixtures.
Suspended for the next two matches, the Brazilian winger’s situation is only getting worse, and he’s facing heavy criticism in Spain.
Vinicius’s troubles seem to be continuing. After his suspension in La Liga for two matches due to his clash with Valencia’s goalkeeper on January 3, the Madrid forward has now faced another punishment in the Champions League.
Playing alongside Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes in the seventh group-stage match against Salzburg, the FIFA 2024 Player of the Year received an unnecessary yellow card for diving in the penalty area. This put him at risk of missing the final group game, and ultimately, he was suspended.
Vinicius to miss Real Madrid’s matches in January
To sum it up, Real Madrid will face Real Valladolid on January 27 and Brest on January 31 without Vinicius Junior. His next appearance will be on February 1 against Espanyol Barcelona. While coach Carlo Ancelotti has alternatives to cover for Vinicius in these relatively easy fixtures, concerns are rising around the 24-year-old.
Vinicius was expected to mature and avoid unnecessary suspensions, but he continues to make costly mistakes. In Spain, his ongoing issues have become a hot topic. After his two goals against Salzburg, which helped him surpass 100 goals for Real Madrid, his performance still couldn’t shield him from media scrutiny.
“He keeps making the same mistake”
On Radio Marca, journalist Látigo Serrano expressed frustration over Vinicius’s latest indiscretion. “It’s impossible for Madrid to play in the Champions League without Vinicius. With a good Vini, they could, but he keeps making the same mistakes, even in friendlies. It drives me crazy,” said Serrano, and he has a point.
For Real Madrid to have a successful season, they’ll need to address these recurring issues. While Ancelotti will undoubtedly work on the team’s defensive weaknesses, he must also find a way to get Vinicius back on track and help him make better decisions on the field.
If Real Madrid struggles to score against Brest and fails to qualify directly for the Champions League knockout stage, Vinicius’s absence will likely become a major talking point.
