Vinícius Júnior returns to the Champions League as an opportunity to recover after an expulsion and a prolonged absence on the bench. The Brazilian striker, who was sent off for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair in the match against Villarreal, will be able to participate on Wednesday against Roma at the Olympic Stadium, provided that coach José Mourinho decides to turn it around. The sanction he may receive in LaLiga does not carry over to European competition, so his availability depends on the coach's decisions.
The Villarreal episode was a night of ups and downs for Real Madrid. Vinícius came on in the 52nd minute and, after a run by Jude Bellingham, seemed to score the team's second goal. The VAR detected the hair pull and disallowed the goal, giving the Brazilian a red card. The player posted an apology to his team and fans on Instagram, saying “the joy continues… sorry to my team and the fans.” Despite the expulsion, Real achieved the three points thanks to Yan Diomande, who came on as a substitute and scored his first goal in the white shirt, consolidating his position in the attack.
Mourinho faces the task of balancing Vinícius and Diomande in the offensive scheme. Both players can share the attack, and the coach has indicated that they could play alongside Mbappé within a balanced structure. The decision on who will have more prominence will depend on the form of each one and the needs of the squad. Diomande, who showed his ability to score in decisive moments, also expressed his excitement about the Champions League, commenting that it is “every child's dream” and that he is grateful to be able to play in it with Real Madrid.
For Vinícius, the Champions League continues to be the stage where he has scored historic moments: the winning goal against Liverpool in Paris in 2022 and the decisive one in the Wembley final against Borussia Dortmund in 2024. His ability to decide high-level matches is the reason why Mourinho is determined to return him to his best form. The Portuguese coach has pointed out that the bench can be a way to help the player regain his rhythm and confidence, but he has also opened up the possibility of the Brazilian not always playing until he is ready.
Real Madrid's next match in the Champions League will be against Leipzig on October 21, after the duel with Sevilla and the classic in Barcelona. While the disciplinary resolution determines the duration of Vinícius' suspension in LaLiga, the club keeps European opportunities open. The next match against Roma represents an opportunity for the forward to prove his worth and once again be a key player in decisive matches.