All about Vinicius Junior's possible suspension in La Liga

Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior is facing the prospect of a suspension ranging from four to twelve matches following an incident in the 79th minute of their La Liga clash against Valencia, which ended 2-1 in favor of the hosts at Mestalla. During the match, the Brazilian forward pushed opposing goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, an act deemed aggressive and without an attempt to play the ball. As a result, Vinicius was shown a red card and sent off. Under La Liga regulations, such aggressive conduct is punishable by suspension, with the severity of the penalty depending on the nature of the incident.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Vinicius is likely to face the minimum suspension of four matches. If this is the case, the 23-year-old would miss Real Madrid's upcoming Supercopa de Espana semifinal against Mallorca. Additionally, if Los Blancos advance to the final, Vinicius could also be sidelined for a potential showdown against Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao, further disrupting his crucial role in the team's campaign. The incident has sparked discussions about his discipline and the potential impact on Real Madrid's plans.

Vinicius Junior has been a key figure for Real Madrid since joining the club in July 2018. Over his tenure, he has made 286 appearances, scoring 97 goals and providing 83 assists. Recently, he was honored as the best player of 2024 at the FIFA Best Awards, highlighting his immense contribution to the team. In La Liga Matchday 12, Real Madrid triumphed 2-1 over Valencia at Mestalla, a fixture originally postponed due to floods. The victory pushed Los Blancos to the top of the table. Despite trailing 1-0 at halftime and facing adversity with Vinicius being sent off in the 79th minute, Real Madrid showed remarkable resilience. Luka Modric equalized in the 85th minute, and Jude Bellingham sealed the win with a goal in added time, reaffirming their never-give-up mentality.

The match, played at a high tempo, saw both teams create numerous opportunities. Real Madrid had an early chance when Lucas Vazquez set up Federico Valverde, but his powerful shot was blocked by Valencia’s goalkeeper, Stole Dimitrievski. Despite the tough conditions, Real Madrid's determination shone through, and they secured a hard-fought, crucial victory.

Valencia tested Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois early on, with the Belgian making two crucial saves—first denying Hugo Duro in the 7th minute and then stopping a one-on-one with Foulquier five minutes later. Despite Courtois’ heroics, Valencia took the lead in the 27th minute. Courtois again saved a powerful shot from Javi Guerra, but Duro pounced on the rebound to give the hosts the advantage.

Real Madrid pushed for an equalizer before halftime, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde coming close from distance. The best chance came from Dani Ceballos, who set up Vinicius Junior for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, but the latter made another crucial save. In the second half, Real Madrid responded with resilience. Luka Modric equalized in the 85th minute, and Jude Bellingham scored in added time to seal the 2-1 victory. However, Vinicius Junior’s potential suspension remains a concern for upcoming matches.