Real Madrid isn’t overly concerned about Vinicius Junior’s condition ahead of the potentially decisive El Clasico clash against Barcelona on Sunday, despite the Brazilian’s early withdrawal from Wednesday’s intense Champions League battle with Manchester City.
Vinicius played for 102 minutes in the contest, which eventually saw Real Madrid emerge victorious on penalties in pursuit of their record-extending 15th European Cup. However, he was substituted by Lucas Vazquez during the first half of extra time due to injury, with the match’s outcome still hanging in the balance.
With the El Clasico just around the corner, Vinicius’s substitution understandably raised concerns among fans. However, The Athletic’s Guillermo Rai reported that the club reassured him that both Vinicius and Dani Carvajal, who also left the field injured during extra time, were both “dancing in the locker room with the music super loud” after the match.
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Vinicius has further solidified his status as one of the world’s best players this season, finishing sixth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or vote. In his first season wearing Madrid’s iconic number seven shirt, previously donned by legends like Raymond Kopa, Emilio Butragueno, Raul, and Cristiano Ronaldo, the 23-year-old has contributed to 28 goals and assists across 31 games in all competitions. Only Jude Bellingham (30), who has played four additional games, has registered more in the Madrid squad.
As Real Madrid prepares for the weekend’s El Clasico, they currently hold an eight-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga. A victory would extend that gap to an almost insurmountable 11 points with only six games remaining. Conversely, a win for Barcelona would narrow the deficit to just five points.
Real Madrid last won the La Liga title in the 2021/22 season, a campaign in which they also secured the Champions League trophy. The possibility of achieving this double again is still very much alive, with Bayern Munich standing in their way in the semi-finals later this month and into May.