When Kylian Mbappe’s knee buckled in training, Real Madrid lost their goal king but handed Vinicius Junior the keys to shine.
Real Madrid faces a tough stretch without their goal machine, Kylian Mbappe, sidelined by a knee sprain from training. This opens the door for Vinicius Junior to reclaim his spot as the team’s driving force against Real Betis and beyond. With Xabi Alonso counting on firepower from elsewhere, Vini must deliver consistency to keep their season on track.
Kylian Mbappe’s injury blow
Kylian Mbappe’s left knee sprain means the French attacker missed the La Liga clash with Real Betis this past weekend at the Bernabeu. Reports suggest a three-week absence, putting the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid on January 8 and several league games at risk.
Mbappe has carried Real Madrid’s attack this season, netting 18 goals in 18 La Liga outings alone. Add nine in the Champions League, and his tally dwarfs the rest of the squad combined at around 22 across competitions. Without him, Xabi Alonso loses his top threat, especially after recent draws exposed attacking frailties.
Vinicius Junior’s Form Slump
Vinicius Junior sits on just five goals in 18 La Liga matches, with his last strike back in October. His xG of 6.40 shows he has underperformed chances, a far cry from the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up who terrorised defences.
Flashes of brilliance appear, like his assist haul of six, but consistency eludes him. In 1,331 minutes, he has started 15 games yet failed to ignite regularly, leaving fans frustrated as Real Madrid are second on the table with 42 points from 18 games. Alonso needs more from the Brazilian winger, who once defined their counter-attacks.
Rodrygo offers support on the right, slowly regaining sharpness with key contributions of late. Jude Bellingham chips in four goals and three assists in limited starts, while Arda Guler’s three goals and five assists highlight emerging threats.
Pressure on Xabi Alonso rises
Xabi Alonso took over in the summer of 2025, guiding Real Madrid to second place despite a recent stumble. A winless run, including the Rayo Vallecano draw, has given Barcelona a four-point lead, ramping up scrutiny ahead of Betis and the Super Cup.
Beating Real Betis keeps momentum; but a slip in the coming games could ignite further La Liga title doubts. Alonso’s tactical tweaks post-Liverpool loss focused on unlocking defences, but without Kylian Mbappe, execution falls to Vinicius.
Vinicius Junior thrived before the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, blending speed, dribbling, and finishing that won UEFA Champions League glory. Now, with eyes solely on him, he must channel that 2024 form, dribbling past markers, linking with Jude Bellingham, and burying chances.
Stats underline urgency: 51 shots but only five goals demand better finishing. Rodrygo’s recovery aids, yet Vinicius Junior leads the line in big moments, as would be the case in the upcoming Super Cup. Pressure builds, but so does opportunity.
Alonso may tweak to a 4-3-3, emphasising Vinicius centrally on the left, Bellingham roaming, and Rodrygo stretching play. Against Betis’ solid backline, quick transitions open up spaces which Vini exploits best.
Past Betis meetings show Real dominates possession but needs end product, Vini provided it before. Super Cup semis demand ruthlessness; Atletico Madrid’s grit tests resolve without Mbappe.
Why now is Vinicius Junior’s moment
Kylian Mbappe’s dominance masked Vinicius Junior’s dip, but absence spotlights his elite potential. At 25, with €98.4 million market value, he has the spotlight to prove Ballon d’Or near-miss was no fluke.
Real Madrid’s depth through Arda Guler’s creativity and Jude Bellingham’s box threat supports, not overshadows the brazilian. Consistent goals here silence critics, easing Xabi Alonso’s load amid a congested schedule.
The January 8 semi-final against Atletico looms large in Jeddah. Diego Simeone’s men surge with Julian Alvarez masterclasses, making Mbappe’s void hurt more. Vinicius Junior has faced Los Rojiblancos before, scoring in derbies.
The 25-year-old spearheads Brazil’s attack; now, he must do it for Real Madrid. Pressure forged his best post-racism resilience through UEFA Champions League heroics. However, the Mbappe gap tests mettle. Alonso eased late in 2025, but slips revive questions. If Vinicius delivers, squad unites; else, cracks show.
Beyond the Super Cup, Vinicius Junior’s consistency will cement his legacy. Ballon d’Or whispers will return with 20+ goals. Squad will evolve around him. Perhaps, Alonso will build a dynasty. Real Madrid’s second-place perch holds firm if he shines. Fans crave the old Vini, electric, decisive. Time will proves if he is the man.
