Gordon Opens Account, Kounde Makes History & Vinicius Set to Miss El Clásico – October 11, 2026
Anthony Gordon finally scores his first for Barça in dominant Getafe win. Meanwhile, Vinicius faces a minimum two-match ban that rules him out of El Clásico.
Gordon Finally Gets Off the Mark
Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for Barcelona. About time, some might say. The English winger had shown flashes since his summer arrival but hadn't found the net until Saturday's comfortable 3-0 win over Getafe at the Estadi Olímpic. He'd impressed during the international break with England, and that confidence clearly carried over. Jules Kounde and Gabriel Jesus added the other goals as Barça extended their perfect La Liga start.
Jesus himself summed it up best in his post-match comments: "Playing here is easy." There's something to that. The Brazilian looked sharp in his first start, slotting into Hansi Flick's system like he'd been here for years. When the pieces fit this well, you have to credit Deco's work in the transfer market.
Kounde Reaches Century, Gerard Martin Earning His Stripes
Kounde's goal came on a special night for the Frenchman, who hit 100 appearances for the club. The French defender has quietly become indispensable, and Flick confirmed he's "feeling good" after some early-season fitness concerns. His versatility allows Flick to shuffle the backline without losing defensive solidity.
Flick also had praise for Gerard Martin, calling him "an underrated player" as the left-back reached his own milestone. Martin won't grab headlines like some of our flashier talents, but he's become a reliable option when needed. That kind of squad depth is what wins titles.
Vinicius Handed Gift-Wrapped Clásico Absence
Now for the news that has every culé grinning from ear to ear. Vinicius Junior is almost certainly missing El Clásico. The Real Madrid winger pulled Saliba's hair during their match, earning a straight red card. According to the match report, it's an expulsion "without the ball in dispute," which carries a minimum two-match ban. Some reports suggest it could stretch to three games.
The club apparently accepts the sanction won't drop below two matches, and the referee's report is damning enough to kill any appeal before it starts. Mourinho now faces a headache trying to reshape his attack without one of his most dangerous weapons. He's already been tinkering with how Mbappé and Vinicius work together, and this forced absence couldn't come at a worse time for Madrid.
Valverde's quick return to the squad has Atlético throwing shade about his supposedly serious derby injury, but that's just Madrid being Madrid. What matters to us is that we'll face them without Vinicius creating problems on the left.
Comfortable, Perhaps Too Comfortable
The Getafe match was professional but hardly thrilling. Barça controlled everything with an ease that bordered on tedious at times. Yet there's something reassuring about watching your team dismantle opponents without breaking a sweat. Flick has this side purring, understanding exactly where they're going and how to get there.
With El Clásico approaching and Vinicius watching from the stands, things are looking very good indeed. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but the pieces are falling into place at exactly the right time.
