Vinicius Jr. was once again the centre of attention during Real Madrid’s stellar 4-0 win over Celta Vigo this past weekend.
Although Real Madrid did not have to break any sweat in defeating Celta, there was one incident that sparked controversy.
During the early stages of the second half, with Real Madrid holding only a narrow 1-0 advantage, Vinicius expertly got the better of Javier Manquillo using his pace.
The Brazilian was through on goal, only to be blatantly pulled back by former Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza.
Details of Mingueza’s altercation with Vinicius
While Mingueza aimed to prevent the forward’s progress without risking injury, Vinicius reacted strongly, echoing frustrations from previous matches.
Vinicius’ recent struggles against RB Leipzig mirrored his frustration against Celta, both instances resulting in only a caution.
Mingueza, however, remained composed throughout, attempting to defuse the situation with conciliatory gestures, emphasizing the need to halt Vinicius’ advance.
Oscar Mingueza explained Vinicius that he had to take one for the team (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
In an attempt to douse the flames, Mingueza even screamed (h/t SPORT), “I have to stop you, I have to stop you.”
Despite Mingueza’s efforts, Vinicius remained aggrieved, prompting teammate Lucas Vázquez to intervene, adding to the tension on the pitch.
Even when Vazquez entered the fray, notably pushing Mingueza, the former Barcelona defender tried to explain, stating, “I’m talking to you well, I’m talking to you well.”
Ultimately, Vinicius was handed a yellow card for losing control. The Brazilian, though, received support from his teammates.
For much of the second half, it appeared that Mingueza’s blatant tactical foul had worked, with Real Madrid unable to break the shackles of the opposition defence.
Eventually, however, two own goals, coupled with Arda Guler’s maiden goal ensured a comfortable 4-0 victory over Los Blancos, who maintain their splendid lead at the top of the league table.