Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Vinicius Junior is expected to start against RB Leipzig in the Champions League despite his four-match La Liga suspension. The Real Madrid coach also explained why the Brazilian needs this opportunity.
Mourinho Confirms Vinicius Decision Ahead of Champions League Clash
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has officially confirmed his decision on Vinicius Junior ahead of the club’s Champions League match against RB Leipzig.
The Brazilian superstar is currently serving a four-match suspension in La Liga following his controversial red card against Villarreal.
However, the punishment does not prevent him from playing in European competitions.
And Mourinho has now confirmed that Vinicius is set to return to Real Madrid’s starting lineup on Wednesday, October 21.
Mourinho confirms Vinicius will start
Speaking after Real Madrid’s impressive 4-1 victory over Sevilla on October 18, Mourinho was asked about his plans for Vinicius.
The Portuguese manager gave a clear answer.
“He’ll start on Wednesday,” Mourinho confirmed.
His comments mean the 26-year-old is expected to start against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Mourinho also explained that European matches will help Vinicius remain motivated during his domestic suspension.
The coach believes playing in the Champions League is important for the Brazilian instead of spending several weeks only training.
Why can Vinicius play in the Champions League?
Vinicius received a four-match suspension following Real Madrid’s victory over Villarreal on October 10.
He was shown a red card after pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba.
The Spanish Football Federation handed him a two-match suspension for the incident and another two matches for his reaction to the referee.
However, the suspension applies to Spanish domestic competitions and does not prevent Vinicius from playing in the Champions League.
That means Mourinho can select him against Leipzig despite his absence from La Liga.
Mourinho sends encouraging message to Vinicius
Mourinho also spoke positively about the Brazilian’s physical condition.
The Real Madrid coach explained that Vinicius had been working hard on his fitness while unavailable for domestic matches.
He believes the winger is fresh and ready to help the team in Europe.
Mourinho also expressed hope that things would improve for Vinicius because the player deserves success.
His comments suggest that the manager continues to trust the Brazilian despite his recent difficulties.
Real Madrid win without Vinicius
The decision comes after Real Madrid secured an impressive 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vinicius missed the match because of his suspension.
However, his teammates delivered a strong attacking performance.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice, while Arda Guler and Yan Diomande also found the net.
The victory gave Mourinho another important result ahead of a difficult week.
Despite the team’s success without Vinicius, the manager still wants the Brazilian back in his Champions League lineup.
Vinicius looking to recover his best form
Vinicius has experienced a difficult start to the 2026/27 season.
His performances have attracted criticism, and his red card against Villarreal created even more controversy.
The Brazilian was also substituted during Real Madrid’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over Roma.
However, Mourinho has continued to defend the winger and recognise his efforts to improve.
The match against Leipzig could now offer Vinicius an important opportunity to rebuild his confidence.
Vinicius set to miss El Clasico
Although Vinicius can return in Europe, his domestic suspension remains a major problem for Real Madrid.
The Brazilian is expected to miss the highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona on October 25.
That means Mourinho could have Vinicius available against Leipzig but not against Barcelona just four days later.
Real Madrid will therefore need to prepare different attacking plans for the two matches.
Mourinho has already made it clear that his immediate focus is on the Champions League rather than the upcoming clash with Barcelona.
Mourinho makes his intentions clear
Real Madrid will host RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 21.
The Champions League clash represents an important opportunity for Vinicius to return to competitive action.
Mourinho has made his intentions clear by confirming that he plans to start the Brazilian winger.
However, the official starting lineup will only be confirmed before the match.
For now, the message from the Real Madrid manager is positive.
Despite his four-match La Liga suspension, Vinicius remains an important part of Mourinho’s Champions League plans.
