Real Madrid emerged victorious against Barcelona in the recent Clasico clash, revealing underlying issues within both teams. The match highlighted challenges faced by Vinicius and Barcelona’s concerning dip in form.
Following Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona, Brazilian star Vinicius publicly apologized for his reaction to being substituted during the game. The 25-year-old expressed regret to the fans, teammates, club, and president, addressing the incident that occurred at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The incident coincides with ongoing contract negotiations for Vinicius, even though his current agreement extends until 2027. While Vinicius has contributed five goals in La Liga this season, Kylian Mbappe has taken the spotlight at Real Madrid, scoring 16 goals in 13 appearances across all competitions.
Real Madrid supporters hope for reconciliation between Vinicius and coach Xabi Alonso ahead of their upcoming match against Valencia. The team, leading Barcelona by five points in La Liga, will face Liverpool in the Champions League following the domestic fixture.
Barcelona, under Hansi Flick’s management, aim to bounce back against Elche after two recent domestic defeats. The team faces an injury crisis with key players like Pedri sidelined with a thigh muscle tear, alongside other injured players such as goalkeepers Joan GarcÃa and Marc Ter Stegen, and Gavi and Raphinha.
In other La Liga matches this weekend, Villarreal will host Rayo Vallecano, while Atletico Madrid, undefeated since the season’s start, will play against Sevilla. Real Sociedad will take on Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby in San Sebastian.