Vinícius Júnior apologized after being sent off during Real Madrid’s 2-1 comeback win over Valencia on Friday in the first LaLiga game of 2025.

Hugo Duro gave Valencia a first-half lead at the Mestalla Stadium before an eventful second period saw Jude Bellingham miss a penalty – hitting the post – and Kylian Mbappé’s goal disallowed for offside.

Vinícius received a red card for tackling Valencia keeper Stole Dimitrievski before substitute Luka Modric equalized for Madrid in the 85th minute and Bellingham scored a dramatic winner in added time.

The result means Madrid have overtaken Atlético Madrid at the top of the LaLiga table, two points ahead of their rivals and having played a game more.

“Sorry and thank you team!!!!!!” Vinícius posted on X after the game.

The Brazil international reacted angrily when he was shown a red card in the 79th minute and his teammate Antonio Rüdiger and goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis prevented him from confronting referee Cesar Soto Grado.

“We believe it was not a red card, but two yellows,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference. “The team was able to react to the missed penalty and the disallowed goal. It’s hard to explain how bad our first half was and how good the second half was. … We can’t show those two faces.”

Vinicius has only been sent off twice for Real Madrid, both sackings coming at the Mestalla. He also received a red card in Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Valencia on May 21, 2023, a game in which he had previously confronted a group of home fans for using racist insults.

“We will appeal (the dismissal),” Ancelotti said. “I don’t know if they will accept it. We don’t think it was a red one. … It was a touch from Dimitrievski and then a push from Vini. I think two yellows would have been enough… I don’t know if (Vini) can play our next game, let’s hope he’s still a crucial player for us.

Bellingham’s missed penalty was the third time Madrid failed to score a penalty goal this season, after Mbappé failed to convert against Liverpool and Athletic Club.

“It annoys me that we missed three penalties,” said Ancelotti. “I have to decide who takes her.”

England star Bellingham had an otherwise outstanding game, providing the passes for Mbappé’s disallowed goal and Modric’s equalizer before scoring himself in the 95th minute to give his side victory.

“A great game from him,” said Ancelotti. “The missed penalty gave him additional motivation. His last 20 minutes showed what only he can do… (the goal) was a reward for the game he played.”