Real Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday night, but the result came with a bitter aftertaste after Vinícius Júnior was sent off for pulling Saliba’s hair.
The forward had already seen a goal annulled before the dismissal, turning what should have been a straightforward winning night into a more complicated one for Real Madrid. The scoreline mattered, but so did the discipline issue, and that is what will linger after the final whistle.
Vinícius Júnior’s night turns sharply
For Vinícius Júnior, the match followed a frustrating pattern. He found the net, only for the goal to be cancelled, and then his evening ended early after the incident involving Saliba.
That is the sort of moment that can change the mood around a team quickly. Real Madrid took the points, but the dismissal means the performance will be remembered for the wrong reasons as well.
Mourinho keeps one eye on what comes next
Tonight, José Mourinho will not hold a press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu. The reason matters, because he wants to be on the touchline against Sevilla and Barcelona.
As Mourinho put it, he wants to be there “contre Séville et Barcelone.” It is a clear sign that the bigger picture is already in view, with upcoming matches carrying obvious importance.
For Real Madrid, the immediate concern is Vinícius Júnior’s dismissal and whatever follows from it. For Mourinho, the focus is on staying available for the bench in the games that come next. Saturday night delivered a win, but not a clean one.
