Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior risks a suspension of four to 12 matches for pushing the opposing team’s goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski during the 79th minute of the La Liga match against Valencia, which ended 2-1 at the Mestella. After the incident, the Brazilian player was sent off. According to Spanish La Liga regulations, such aggressive behaviour without an attempt to play the ball is punishable by suspension. According to Spanish language media outlet Mundo Deportivo, Vinicius will likely receive the minimum penalty of four matches. This could exclude him from participating in the Supercopa de Espana semifinal against Mallorca, and if they advance to the final, he may miss the match against Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao.

Vinicius has been with Real Madrid since July 2018. He has played a total of 286 matches for the club, scoring 97 goals and providing 83 assists. He was recently named the best player of 2024 at the FIFA Best Awards.

Real Madrid won at Mestalla on La Liga Matchday 12 going top of the table in the process, in a fixture that had been postponed due to the floods. Real Madrid went into half-time trailing 1-0, but in the second half, and with everything going against them, the defending champions showed once again that they will not give up until the end. Despite being a player down due to the sending off of Vini Jr. in the 79th minute, Ancelotti’s men came from behind with goals from Modric in the 85th minute and Bellingham in added time.

It didn’t feel like the first game back after the Christmas break. The first half was played at a very high tempo and both sides created many chances. The first was for Ancelotti’s side after five minutes when Lucas Vazquez teed up Valverde but his powerful shot was blocked by Dimitrievski.

The home side responded twice and on both occasions were met with two great stops by Courtois, first after Hugo Duro’s shot inside the area in the 7th minute and five minutes later in a one-on-one with Foulquier.

The game showed no signs of slowing down and before the half-hour mark Valencia took the lead. Courtois made a spectacular save from Javi Guerra’s shot from inside the area, but Hugo Duro took advantage of the rebound to score in the 27th minute. From that moment until the break, Ancelotti’s side went in search of an equaliser with Tchouameni and Valverde coming closest with long-range shots in the 34th and 38th minute respectively. The best chance came after a great pass from Ceballos who put Vini Jr. one-on-one with Dimitrievski, but he again saved his team.

Real Madrid, however, managed to turn things around in the second half and claimed three full points. But the possible ban for Vini Jr will remain a worry for the next few matches.

Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick to help Real Madrid bounce back from two consecutive home defeats with a 4-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday. Hammered by Barcelona in a league Clasico and then outplayed by AC Milan in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti’s side badly needed this confidence-boosting victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish and European champions thrashed Osasuna thanks to Vinicius’ treble, while Jude Bellingham scored his first goal of the season for Los Blancos.

However Madrid’s superstar striker Kylian Mbappe failed to find the net again and has scored one goal in his last seven matches, while Brazilian duo Eder Militao and Rodrygo were taken off injured along with Lucas Vazquez.

Second-placed Madrid reigned in Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points before the Catalans visit Real Sociedad on Sunday.

“We won by a margin, we had a complete game in terms of work and effort, looking out for our team-mates, so I’m happy for the win that we needed,” Madrid attacker Brahim Diaz told Real Madrid TV.

“Madrid always have to win and we’d suffered two consecutive defeats…

“The fans deserved a victory, we can still give more, we are an incredible team.”

Ancelotti brought Rodrygo into the line-up after the Milan defeat, reverting to a 4-3-3 formation.

The Brazilian winger drew a save from Sergio Herrera but was forced off with a knee problem during an intense start to the match.

Militao was taken off on a stretcher before the half-hour mark holding the back of his right knee, after going to ground in Osasuna’s area.

The defender missed most of last season with a severe knee injury and with David Alaba, Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Carvajal out hurt already, his departure was particularly bad news for Madrid.

Ancelotti replaced Militao with 21-year-old defender Raul Asencio, making his debut after progressing through the youth academy.

Despite the setbacks, Madrid took the lead in the 34th minute when Bellingham teed up Vinicus, who whipped home at the near post.

England international Bellingham, whose goals were vital for Madrid last season, broke his duck this campaign with a fine lob after Asencio played a fine long ball to send him running through on goal.

Vinicius netted his second after Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, found the forward with a long ball and he rounded the goalkeeper to finish.

The Brazilian finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting despite being favourite to win the award at the end of October, losing out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri, but soon completed his second hat-trick in four games.

Brahim Diaz won the ball back deep in Osasuna territory and teed up Vinicius for a simple finish to complete the rout.

After Vinicius was replaced in the final stages Mbappe could play in his preferred position on the left flank but was unable to find the net as his personal travails continued, even as Madrid’s abated.

Los Blancos’ clean sheet helped end a run of nine goals conceded in three consecutive home matches.

Once Madrid had opened the scoring Osasuna, fifth, faded rapidly.

“We lacked intensity, rhythm… it was a game to forget,” admitted Osasuna’s Jon Moncayola, speaking to DAZN.

“(It was) 4-0 and they could even have scored more.”

File image of Kylian Mbappe.© Reuters

File photo of Vinicius Junior.© AFP