Where is Vinicius Jr? Why Real Madrid star is not playing against Barcelona in El Clasico

Real Madrid face Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the 2026/27 La Liga season without star forward Vinicius Jr, who is absent from the matchup. The match carries significant weight for Real Madrid, who are described as already fighting for their La Liga lives. The specific reason for Vinicius Jr's absence is addressed in the full article, though the excerpt does not detail the exact cause.