At Real Madrid, the Ivorian international winger Yan Diomandé (19), scorer of two goals in La Liga, is threatening Vinicius’s place before the visit of Leipzig in the Champions League this Wednesday. Suspended in the league, the Brazilian has only this European match before mid-November.
The Santiago Bernabéu hosts RB Leipzig this Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at 21:00, for Champions League matchday 3. On Madrid’s left flank, Diomandé is pushing Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid and Brazil attacking winger. According to Tribuna.com, the performances of the 19-year-old Ivorian winger directly threaten the Brazilian’s place.
Signed for a fortune from Leipzig last summer, Diomandé faces his former German club. He arrives in form: after a first official goal in La Liga against Villarreal (1-0) on 10 October, he scored again against Sevilla (4-1).
Vinicius suspended, a single opportunity
Vinicius is banned from league action. Sent off against Villarreal, the Brazilian winger is suspended in La Liga until the end of November, reports Tribuna.com. The Champions League match against Leipzig is, according to the same source, his only chance to play in official competition before mid-November.
For Diomandé, this match can confirm the momentum of recent weeks, while competition on the left flank is now settled on the pitch.
Mourinho’s message
José Mourinho, Real Madrid’s head coach, restated the principle before the match: “What makes players untouchable is neither their status, nor the armband, nor the years spent at the club. Nor is it the amount spent on them. What makes a player untouchable is his performance on the pitch,” according to Tribuna.com.
Real have also won their first two Champions League matches, including a stunning 4-3 comeback win against Roma on matchday 2, according to Goal.com.
Leipzig seeking redemption
On the other side, RB Leipzig come into the game off a heavy 6-1 Bundesliga defeat to Bayern Munich last weekend, according to Goal.com. Martín Demichelis’s side, the German club’s head coach, travel to Madrid in that context.
For Madrid, Antonio Rüdiger, Real’s centre-back, would return as a starter in central defence alongside Ibrahima Konaté, according to the Spanish press cited by Tribuna.com. The match will be broadcast on Canal+ Sport in France at 21:00, BeFoot reports.
After Leipzig, Real follow up on Sunday, 25 October 2026, with a Clasico against FC Barcelona in La Liga, according to the schedule provided.