With Vinícius Júnior suspended for El Clásico, Real Madrid must weigh five alternatives as José Mourinho prepares for the October 25 showdown against Barcelona.
Real Madrid already knows the suspension handed to Vinícius. The forward will be unavailable for the match against FC Barcelona on October 25. José Mourinho has five options to replace him ahead of the game at Camp Nou. Vinícius will also miss Sunday's match against Sevilla.
After defeating Roma away from home in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid is already looking ahead to another LaLiga fixture. However, the team will have to do so without Vinícius, whose suspension following the match against Villarreal will keep him out for four games. He will not be available against Barcelona on October 25, and José Mourinho is already assessing his options to replace him.
The Portuguese coach will be without his left winger. The red card Vinícius received against Villarreal has resulted in the harshest possible punishment following the referee's report. Mourinho's first option will be to deploy Yan Diomande on the left wing, allowing Real Madrid to maintain the system he has been using since joining the team.
However, there are several other possibilities. The first would be to trust Carlos Espí as the center-forward and move Kylian Mbappé to the left wing. This alternative would give Real Madrid a greater presence in the penalty area, but it would likely require its superstar to take on defensive responsibilities, an area in which he has not consistently provided guarantees recently. Under this scenario, Diomande would drop out of the lineup.
Bernardo Silva could be another option. The Portuguese midfielder has barely started in recent weeks because of various physical problems. Starting him in El Clásico would give Real Madrid greater control and ball retention, something the team struggled in Rome when Silva was not on the pitch. Vinícius' absence also makes Arda Güler's inclusion at Camp Nou almost essential.
Brahim Díaz is another alternative being considered by Mourinho's coaching staff. He would allow the manager to maintain his current system. Unlike the Ivorian player, Brahim already has considerable experience playing in Clásicos against Barcelona. That is no minor consideration, given the hostile reception expected for the Madrid side in the Catalan capital.
The final option is Endrick. He was one of the team's standout performers in the victory over Roma, scoring a goal and playing a decisive role in the second half. Mourinho has repeatedly praised him in press conferences, amid growing interest in signing the Brazilian away from the club. He would offer an additional threat with his runs from deeper positions to a team that, aside from set pieces, struggled to create clear-cut chances in the Italian capital.
Starting on Sunday, Mourinho will begin assessing who could fill Vinícius' place. Real Madrid will host Sevilla that day, already knowing the result of Barcelona's match against Betis. The game could offer the first clues as to who will replace the Brazilian on October 25 at Camp Nou.
