Vinícius Júnior’s Burned Temper, Alonso’s Substitution: A Clasico Night of Drama
26 October 2025
Vinícius Júnior erupts after Alonso's substitution in the Madrid-Barcelona Clasico
Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior exploded in anger after a substitution decision by coach Xabi Alonso during the Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday, in the tenth round of La Liga at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu.
Alonso pulled Vinícius in the 72nd minute and brought on Rodrygo.
Vinícius left the pitch swearing, a clear sign of his frustration with the manager's call.
He did not score, but he was Madrid's most dangerous outlet, firing three attempts, one on target saved by the Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, and he helped set up Jude Bellingham's opening goal in the first half.
At that moment, Madrid led 2-1.
Real Madrid's starting XI featured four midfielders—Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler—behind a front line of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé.
Barcelona began with Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford in attack, with Rafinha and Robert Lewandowski sidelined by injuries.
Madrid's lineup included goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois; defenders Álvaro Carerres, Din Huissen, Éder Militão and Fede Valverde; midfield Jude Bellingham, Tchouaméni, Camavinga and Arda Güler; forwards Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé.
Barcelona's XI featured goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny; defense Alejandro Balde, Eric García, Pau Kobarci and Jules Koundé; midfield Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López; attack Ferran Torres, Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal.
Before the Clasico, Barça had played nine league games, with seven wins, one draw and one defeat. They drew 1-1 with Real Valladolid and were thrashed 1-4 by Sevilla.
Real Madrid, with the same nine games, boasted eight wins and one loss, the setback coming in a heavy 2-5 defeat to city rival Atlético Madrid.
Barça sat on 22 points, second in the table, two points behind Madrid, which had reclaimed the lead thanks to a 1-0 win over Getafe, setting the stage for the eagerly awaited Clasico.
Barça’s recent Clasico history this season has been tough for Real Madrid. In the 2024-2025 campaign, Madrid failed to win any Clasicos across competitions, while Barça claimed a league victory of 4-0 in Round 11, and later triumphed 5-2 in the Saudi-hosted Super Cup final. In the Copa del Rey final on 26 April 2025, Barça edged Madrid with a late comeback and a 3-2 extra-time win after Vinícius’s and others’ attempts. A fourth clash in Round 35 of La Liga saw Barça overturn a 2-0 deficit to win 4-3, sealing the Blaugrana’s dominance for the season.
Ahead of this Clasico, Barça had played nine league games (7 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) and stood on 22 points, while Madrid led the table after their 1-0 win over Getafe. The stage is set for a high-stakes encounter, with history leaning toward Barça in recent finals and the Bernabéu hoping for a reversal of fortune.
Punchline 1: If Alonso wanted a dramatic turnover, he picked the right hinge—Vinícius’s temper is the season’s best cliffhanger. Punchline 2: Clasicos are less about the scoreline and more about the faces on the sideline—Vinícius’s expressions just filed their own transfer request to the drama department.
