Why isn’t Vinicius Jr playing for Real Madrid against Liverpool today?

The Brazilian will miss Madrid's big Champions League match at Anfield.

Kicking someone when he's knocked down is what any noble warrior with even a medieval concept of morality will tell the listening squires: this is off limits. Your opponent is knocked down, wounded and ready to accept defeat, so a final cut of the sword is too far and should be avoided. However, it seems that when the football gods gave life to the beautiful game on Day 8, they forgot this page in their boss's cosmic rulebook.

Real Madrid travel to Anfield (Wednesday, November 27, 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT.) in a seismic clash that could define their success in this year's Champions League. The Spanish team are bottom of the table and fly to the northwest of England with a slew of injuries that have chopped their squad into small slices fit for a mouse salad.

Militão is out, as is Dani Carvajal. Add to that Rodrygo and Tchouaméni. Also throw in a few academy prospects – the ones that would be filled in – while the door is open to the physio room in Valdebebas. Oh, who cares, God threw away his copy of the Einsteinian space laws, let's kick 'em while they're down. Vinicius Jr. is also not available for Real Madrid, just for the helluvit.

What injury does Vinicius Jr. have?

The Brazilian winger managed to get through almost 90 minutes without any problems against Leganés in LaLiga, but it seems Ancelotti already knew that the alarm bells were ringing. He played the winger through the middle because the physical effort was less for him that way, he said. It didn't work and he has now been out for about four weeks with a hamstring problem which has caused him to miss many important games in the league and Europe: Getafe (December 1), Athletic Club (December 4), Girona (December 7). ), Atalanta (UCL, December 10) and Rayo Vallecano (December 14).

Real Madrid's statement was typically curt: following tests conducted today by Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Vini Jr. were performed, he was diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg. His progress will be monitored.

The focus naturally shifts to Mbappé, whose name appears in the first three headlines of the AS daily newspaper in the Spanish capital. “It's in Mbappé's hands”, “Anfield needs the best Mbappé” and “Mbappé can start the debate” are all calling for him to do something the oldies will remember him doing: score goals for Real Madrid.

Normally that is his bread and butter, his Coq au vin, but not this season. From that typical left position he scored against Leganés, but he was just offside. The goal served as a glimpse, a reminder, a premonition perhaps of what he can do. And right now, that's what he has to do.

The Liverpool – Real Madrid match will be played on Wednesday, November 27 at Anfield, with kick-off at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT.