Vinicius Jr. simulation row clouds Real Madrid’s La Liga season opener

Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Espanyol to open the new La Liga season, marking the first match of José Mourinho’s second spell in charge after a 13-year absence. While the result provided a positive start to the campaign, the on-field performance was largely eclipsed by renewed controversy surrounding Vinicius Jr.

The dispute centred on two incidents where the Brazilian forward fell in the penalty area. Referee José María Sánchez Martínez did not award a penalty for either fall, nor did he issue a yellow card for simulation, despite Vinicius having already received a booking in the first half after clashing with Álex Calatrava Torrado.

During the match, Espanyol took to social media to question the refereeing decisions, posting: “How many dives does it actually take to get a second yellow card? Asking for a friend.” The post was widely interpreted as a direct reference to Vinicius’s conduct.

Real Madrid’s response was swift and pointed. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois reacted sharply after the final whistle, suggesting Espanyol should “look in the mirror” before judging others. He questioned whether the club would post similar messages when playing against teams other than Real Madrid.

Manager Mourinho also defended his player at the post-match press conference, describing the treatment as “bullying” from both opponents and the crowd. He noted that Vinicius, while not a saint, must show great restraint in an era that typically preaches anti-bullying. Mourinho added that he had advised the player to be careful with his celebrations if he scored.

The match itself saw Jude Bellingham open the scoring with a header, before Álex Calatrava equalised for Espanyol in the 30th minute. Substitute Carlos Espí scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute to secure the points for Madrid. New signings Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konaté also made their debuts in the starting lineup.