Madrid’s European night against Roma brought a 4-3 win, but Vinicius Junior left the spotlight with an admission that his form has fallen below his own standards and a domestic ban about to remove him from Real Madrid’s most demanding October fixtures.
The Brazilian winger was taken off for Endrick while Real were 3-1 down in Wednesday’s second Champions League matchday. Endrick’s introduction helped change the rhythm of a remarkable comeback, while Vinicius later addressed the difficult start to his 2026/27 campaign.
Quick facts
- Vinicius has recorded one goal and three assists in 10 appearances this season.
- He has received a four-match La Liga suspension after his dismissal against Villarreal.
- The ban rules him out of the Barcelona match at Camp Nou on October 25.
- Real’s suspended league run includes Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia.
- He can return in La Liga against Celta Vigo on November 22.
Now 26 and one of Real’s captains, Vinicius has heard whistles at the Santiago Bernabeu as his output has dipped. He said the reaction does not make recovery easier, while accepting supporters have paid to watch the team and can express their frustration.
“We perform better with the fans behind us,” he said, naming Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and himself among those who benefit from encouragement. “Perhaps it is easier to whistle me because I have been here longer and I am one of the captains. I will come back.”
Vinicius also pointed to his early years in the Spanish capital, recalling that some people mocked him when he arrived as a young player. He has since passed 100 goals for Real Madrid, a record he cited as proof that he can emerge from the present spell.
Four-match domestic absence
The Spanish Football Federation imposed the punishment shortly before the Roma fixture. Two matches relate to Vinicius’s red card against Villarreal last Saturday, with two additional games added for his protests.
He questioned both the timing and the basis of the sanction, saying he learned of it only after reaching the stadium despite the authorities having had the whole day to communicate the decision. Vinicius added that the regulation was new and had not been explained to the players by La Liga officials.
“I have never committed violence against another player,” he said. “I am fouled often, and a yellow card has always been enough for me.”
The suspension keeps him out at home to Sevilla, away at Barcelona and Racing Santander, then at home to Valencia. The Camp Nou meeting on October 25 will be the most conspicuous absence in a sequence that removes one of Madrid’s senior figures from the domestic calendar.
Europe remains open to him. Before his league return at Celta Vigo on November 22, Real are also scheduled to meet RB Leipzig on October 21 and AEK Athens on November 4 in the Champions League.
Endrick, meanwhile, has left his own longer-term situation unresolved after being named player of the match, saying he would leave if that proved necessary. For Vinicius, the immediate task is simpler: use the continental stage to restore form before La Liga welcomes him back.
