Real Madrid experienced a night of tension at the Bernabéu, with the derby defeat against Atletico and the subsequent 1-0 victory against Villarreal. The most discussed episode was the expulsion of Vinicius Junior, which sparked protests both on and off the pitch. Coach José Mourinho, after the result, decided not to participate in the press conference, declaring that he preferred to remain on the bench for the next matches against Sevilla and Barcelona.
During the match against Villarreal, Vinicius, inserted in the second half, scored a goal that seemed to guarantee the victory. However, VAR detected a foul on Saliba's player, with Vinicius having pulled his hair in a gesture of frustration. The referee disallowed the goal and showed the Brazilian the red card, leaving Real Madrid one point behind. The decision sparked strong reactions from the club, with players having to push the number seven off the pitch to avoid further suspensions.
Mourinho, who had shown frustration with referees in the past, reacted more quietly this time. After the match, he avoided speaking in the press conference, explaining that his choice was motivated by the desire to be on the bench for the next important matches. His statement, reported by Marca, underlined that he did not want to speak so as not to incur further disqualifications or controversies.
Real Madrid, with the victory against Villarreal, consolidated its position in the La Liga table, but Vinicius' disqualification could have repercussions for the next matches. The club will have to manage the situation carefully, especially considering the upcoming match against Roma in the Champions League and the upcoming rivalry with Barcelona. Mourinho expressed his frustration with the refereeing decisions, but chose to focus on preparing for future matches, avoiding further controversies that could distract the team.