Xabi Alonso Provides Positive Update On Vinicius Jr. After Champions League Omission

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has spoken about Vinicius Jr.’s mood. The Brazilian star was surprisingly left out of the Champions League starting lineup. Alonso shared that Vinicius now seems in better spirits as Madrid prepare for an important La Liga match.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Xabi Alonso decided not to start Vinicius Jr. in Real Madrid‘s opening match of the Champions League. Instead, he chose Rodrygo and new signings for the attack. Vinicius came off the bench in the second half, playing for 27 minutes and making an immediate impact. He registered two shots and helped the team win a crucial penalty despite being down to 10 men. After the game, Alonso said he did not speak much with Vinicius yesterday as the player was too upset, but by today he had regained his smile and took part in individual exercises with the coach. Alonso noted Vinicius looked “more positive and more smiling” and said the staff would decide tomorrow if he plays in the next league game. Real Madrid secured a victory against Olympique Marseille 2-1 in the Champions League, with Kylian Mbappé scoring both goals, further highlighting the team’s resilience despite the red card situation in that match.

VINICIUS AND MADRID THIS SEASON

Vinicius Jr. has not started as many matches this season as in previous years. The arrival of Kylian Mbappe and the emergence of academy stars like Mastantuono have increased competition for starting places. Under Alonso, Vinicius has had to adapt to a new playing style and less freedom in attack. Madrid came away with a hard-fought result in the Champions League opener, generating an impressive xG of 3.65, but the attack looked sharper when Vinicius was on the pitch. As of now, Real Madrid is sitting at the top of La Liga after a flawless start, winning all four matches this season, securing 12 points from their opening 12 in La Liga. So far, the Brazilian has contributed three league goals and one assist in five appearances this season, but his role remains under scrutiny by fans and pundits.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR REAL MADRID AND VINICIUS?

Real Madrid turns their focus to their upcoming La Liga clash against Espanyol, who are mid-table but are known for upsetting other teams. Madrid need three points to be able to keep the distance to Barcelona and keep the pressure on at the top. The competition for attacking places remains fierce, with Mastantuono and Rodrygo pushing for minutes alongside Mbappe and Vinicius. Alonso is expected to assess Vinicius’ condition before deciding his starting lineup for the weekend. The club will monitor Vinicius closely, aiming to keep him physically and mentally prepared as Madrid enter a critical run of fixtures against teams just below them in the standings.