Real Madrid face the first big sprint of the season this Saturday at Anoeta against Real Sociedad (21.00, Movistar) – seven games in 22 days, five in La Liga and two in the Champions League – with Barcelona four points ahead, the search for balance is still underway, and waiting for Vinicius to blossom, to fit in with Mbappé and for both to break into the scoring. As Carlo Ancelotti pointed out yesterday, everything is going down the road: “Kylian has finally finished his training, as has Vini. Many forget that they started the season on August 9, a month ago, playing a lot of games. They haven’t been able to do preseason. They have improved their condition with the games.”
His form outside Spain has also been questioned. Both have returned to Valdebebas from the international break with the echo of criticism received for their performances with France and, especially, with Brazil. Ancelotti yesterday tried to add perspective to the downpour on Vinicius: “We agree that he is not at his best, but we cannot forget that Vinicius allowed us to win two Champions Leagues. Even though he is not at his best, we all have to have a lot of affection for him at Real Madrid,” he said. “He is still very important for us, because he was decisive in winning the Super Cup, with his assist. It is true that he has not scored as usual, but we are in no hurry.”
The Brazilian has scored just one goal in his first five games this season, a penalty at Las Palmas. Last year he scored one in three games before getting injured, and last year he started with five goals in his first seven games. Vinicius is struggling to score, but his game produces more than ever for others: he has created 14 chances that have led to shots from teammates, more than anyone else in the big five leagues, according to StatsBomb records. He has never produced so much: he starts 3.4 times per 90 minutes. Next is Lamine Yamal, with 2.3, 32% less. It is true that four games are too few to draw conclusions, but this seems to indicate how he is trying to adapt. Last year, the first without Benzema, when he even played as a number nine, Vinicius generated only a third, 1.2 per game. By contrast, when he helped the Frenchman win the Ballon d’Or in 2021/22, he created 2.2 chances per game.
In any case, the doubts Ancelotti may have about the attack are not related to their performance but to the effects of the calendar: “It is not a concern to play seven games in three weeks. We are used to it. But the assessment of fatigue is very important. Now the players who arrived on Thursday, who are the Brazilians, are under observation. Vinicius, Rodrygo and Endrick have not had much time to work or rest.”
He also has fewer doubts in defence: he can count on Mendy, who was not with France due to a problem with his tibia, and on Militão, who suffered a pain in his right thigh with Brazil.
He is less clear about the midfield. Tchouameni returned immediately from the French training camp due to discomfort in his left foot, and Bellingham, who was recovering from a muscle injury, was not involved with England. Both did part of the training session with the group on Thursday, but yesterday they worked separately. “Let’s see if they are available for Tuesday’s game,” said Ancelotti about Madrid’s Champions League opener against Stuttgart at the Bernabéu (21.00, Movistar).
Yesterday, he said, he only needed to decide whether he would line up Brahim or Güler in San Sebastian to tackle the beginning of a binge of matches that will take them to the Metropolitano on the 29th and that could start to set the trend for the season. Also yesterday, Madrid closed for the moment a chapter that was still half-open: Andriy Lunin extended until 2030 the contract that expired next summer.
