Real Madrid could have lost Vinicius and Endrick for the derby against Atletico Madrid in a matter of two minutes. The former, with a yellow, laughed out of added time as he was substituted. The latter was booked in an action in which Alaves claimed a red card.
Real Madrid will have all their players available, except for physical problems, for the Madrid derby. However, against Alaves, two players were on the verge of missing out the clash against Atletico Madrid due to possible red cards.
The first was Endrick. In an action without the ball, and after a slight push from Santiago Mourino, the Real Madrid striker kneed him in his groin, an action that resulted in a yellow card.
The Alaves players, joined by their coach Luis Garcia Plaza at a press conference, claimed that Endrick’s action should have been punished with a red card for violent conduct. Had it happened, the young player would have missed Sunday’s derby against Atletico Madrid.
The second controversial action was that of Vinicius. After being yellow carded in the first half for protesting what he thought was a clear foul on the edge of the box, the winger took a risk when he was substituted late in the game.
Just as he was leaving the pitch for Fran Garcia to come on, the Brazilian saw the 6 minutes added on for the second half. At that moment, in front of the fourth official, Vinicius laughed at the referee’s decision, which could have earned him a second yellow card.