Real Madrid goes into the second leg against FC Bayern with a small advantage. The Royals have Vinicius Junior to thank for this – like so much since the turn of the year.
Thanks to Vinicius Junior (left) or Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid is building on the CR7 era. imago images (3)
It was no coincidence that Real Madrid’s difference player on Tuesday evening in Munich did not wear the number 5, but rather the number 7. You probably have to look back to Cristiano Ronaldo to find a royal newcomer who dominated the headlines in his first season like Jude Bellingham. But a few things have changed in the Spanish capital.
“He didn’t have his best day today,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti afterwards about the 20-year-old, whose now significantly lower goal tally (only four goals in the second half of the season) is not only due to a somewhat deeper position and a different role.
It is currently more likely that Bellingham (kicker grade 4), who according to Ancelotti was ailing and was substituted in the 75th minute of the Champions League semi-final first leg, is chasing his excellent form from the first half of the season – complaining at a very high level, of course the rule. His late winning goal again in the most recent Clasico was the exception in 2024.
You can’t say that about Vinicius Junior’s brace (kicker grade 1). The 23-year-old Brazilian, who has recently become a central attacker, has performed better since the beginning of the year than ever before, and is something like Real’s second-half Bellingham in the first third of 2024.
Perhaps the best game against Girona
The winger’s fabulous run began in the final of the Supercopa, also a Clasico. Real won 4-1, Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick. Perhaps his best game so far in a Real jersey came four weeks later in the championship preliminary decision against rivals Girona. In the 4-0 victory, the right-footer opened the scoring himself and prepared the three other goals.
Vinicius Junior is also not left out in the premier class, where there has only been one player who has been directly involved in more than 30 goals since the start of the 2021/22 season: him. 16 hits, 17 assists. Balanced. When Madrid struggled against RB Leipzig in this year’s round of 16, it was Vinicius who scored the decisive goal in the second leg. A round later against defending champions Manchester City, he again provided the assist for three of Royal’s four goals.
In the last Clasico, which was probably the final championship decision, the dribbler, who was actually a bit sloppy at the end – proved himself to be a reliable penalty taker – leading to the important 1-1 result. This was also the case in the CL semi-finals in Munich, when he saved Real from 2-2 and became only the tenth guest player in the history of the competition to score at least two goals in Munich.
A double pack for Bayern – with the number 7 on the back? Then you have to look back to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the only player to achieve this feat twice in 2014 and 2017.
There are four impressive months that Vinicius Junior has conjured up on the pitch so far this calendar year. Which means that he is now overtaking Bellingham not only in the headline rankings. But possibly also, especially since in the summer, in addition to the European Championships, there is also the Copa America in the race for the Ballon d’Or.