Why Vinicius Junior does not play for Real Madrid vs. Brest

With a place in the Champions League Top Eight on the line, Real Madrid takes Brest without Vinícius Júnior.

It could have seen impossible back in November, but Real Madrid still has a chance to automatically move on to the Champions League round at 16. Although Los Blancos needs lots of results to go their way on the final league phase – Match Day, they also have to deal with their own business and defeat Brest.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are the favorites against Ligue 1 side, but the pressure is on Real Madrid to win by a large margin to give themselves the best possible target difference. On paper, the task may not seem too difficult for defending Spanish and European masters, but they will be without one of their best goal scorers in Vinícius Júnior.

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Vinícius Júnior is suspended for the Real Madrid Champions League clash with Brest. The wing received its third yellow card in the league against RB Salzburg and must therefore earn a one-game-pension.

The 24-year-old is no stranger to suspensions this season. Vinícius Júnior already earned a one-game pension for yellow map accumulation in La Liga before the holiday break and served just a two-match La Liga ban to receive a straight red card against Valencia.

In fact, Vinícius Júnior has now missed three of Real Madrid’s last four matches across all competitions due to different suspensions. Still, Los Blanco’s seven goals scored in their last two matches without the Brazilian thanks to Kylian Mbappé.

Ancelotti will again rely on the Frenchman together with Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham to find the back of the net against Brest.

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