After two defeats, Real Madrid regained their smiles at the Bernabeu with a 4-0 thrashing of Osasuna.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti said 24 hours earlier at their Valdebebas training ground that, after internal talks, he and his squad had found the solution to their problems. On-pitch results will be the judge of that theory, but Osasuna at home proved to be a straightforward test.
Despite the win, there are more issues to solve. Three injuries in the first half sapped some of the joy of victory, with Rodrygo (one month out) and Lucas Vazquez (three weeks) suffering muscular problems and Eder Militao (nine months) tearing an anterior cruciate ligament for the second time — this time in his right knee — in two seasons.
Mario Cortegana brings you the big talking points from the match.
Vinicius Jr’s superb strikes
Vinicius Junior has started the season as he finished the last: in unstoppable form.
In the pre-match press conference, Ancelotti had been asked why he didn’t move the Brazilian in the middle, which would allow Kylian Mbappe to play in his favoured position on the left. “Because I didn’t want to change the position of the player who makes the difference,” Ancelotti replied.
Given Mbappe’s status as the club’s latest high-profile signing, the explanation generated a lot of commentary — but Vinicius Jr proved his coach right and, in the process, responded to the challenge of the rival fans.
In the seventh minute, Osasuna supporters at the Bernabeu mocked Vinicius Jr with chants of, “Balon de playa (beach ball),” after he finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting behind Manchester City midfielder Rodri. They may now be wishing they kept the taunts to themselves.
The forward had gone into the game eager to lift the team. “Let’s go,” he posted on X.
A por La LIGA! VAMOS JUNTOS! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/tyEyAYSf8H
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) November 8, 2024
As half-time approached, Vinicius Jr made it 1-0, celebrating with Ancelotti in an embrace that suggests the Italian has not lost the dressing room. Jude Bellingham, who registered the assist for Vinicius Jr’s opener, doubled Madrid’s advantage before the interval.
Vinicius Jr’s second goal came in the 61st minute, sprinting from inside his half to collect Andriy Lunin’s long ball before dribbling past Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera and pushing the ball into the net while looking the other way. He celebrated, as is his custom, by kissing the club crest on his shirt. The home fans chanted: “Vinicius, Ballon d’Or!”
The goal that sealed his hat-trick was a gift from Brahim Diaz, which he embellished and celebrated by imitating his team-mate’s celebration and kissing the badge again.
With the stadium in raptures, he was substituted in the 75th minute and named player of the match. Vinicius Jr has 12 goals and seven assists in 1,432 minutes this season, a rate of a goal involvement every 75 minutes.
Amo este equipo!!! 🤍😉 pic.twitter.com/GjkGZ8xTqE
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) November 9, 2024
Mbappe still struggling
The other side of the coin was Mbappe, who is almost unrecognisable from the game-changer witnessed at Paris Saint-Germain. He only managed one shot on target on Saturday and has scored once in his last seven games across all competitions.
“He’s tried, he’s made some very good combinations,” said Ancelotti. “He will score sooner or later.”
The club are aware of his poor form and are trying to help. There was a small gesture in this direction: Mbappe’s name was the last to be heard on the loudspeakers before the match to receive greater support — a spot that had been reserved for Vinicius Jr, Luka Modric or Bellingham.
Yet Mbappe could not quite find his stride. There were glimpses, including a powerful dribble from his own half until he was fouled near the box, and switching positions with Vinicius Jr after the break helped. He looked more comfortable on the left wing.
(Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The fans tried to get behind him, twice chanting his name — once for no particular reason and once when he failed to convert a chance.
The 25-year-old can use the international break to continue working at Valdebebas, as he has not been included in Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the second international window in a row.
Ancelotti’s solution
After the 3-1 Champions League defeat against AC Milan, Ancelotti said there had been a talk.
“We think we have found the solution,” he said. “But this is just the theory, tomorrow we have to act, put it into practice,” he added.
Ancelotti had explained the problem was not “offensive, nor positioning or strategy, but defensive,” and his team delivered.
After conceding 10 goals in four games, they kept a clean sheet. Osasuna, who came into the game fifth and level on points with fourth in the table, had no shots on target. Barcelona and Milan had a combined 16 shots on target in their wins against Madrid.
Ancelotti was asked what his team had done differently. “A better attitude defensively, a more organised team, a greater commitment from everyone,” he said afterwards. “That has made the difference.”
Injuries hit hard, so what now?
Real Madrid were plagued by injuries before the match, but three more in the first half added to the crisis — especially Militao’s cruel blow. The centre-back was clearly in agony after an innocuous incident in Osasuna’s penalty area.
(Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Academy player Raul Asencio, 21, made his debut, assisting Bellingham with a sublime long ball just minutes afterwards, but Antonio Rudiger is the only senior centre-back available. Militao is out for the season and there is no return date yet for David Alaba, who is also recovering from an ACL injury. The third-choice centre-back, Aurelien Tchouameni, who is naturally a midfielder, will be out for around a month. The fourth choice, Dani Carvajal, a full-back, will miss the remainder of the season with his own serious knee injury.
Muscular injuries to Rodrygo and Vazquez further complicate the situation. This is particularly true at full-back, with no senior players available in that position. Federico Valverde deputised in the second half against Osasuna.
“We are evaluating right-backs from the academy: (Jesus) Fortea, Lorenzo (Aguado), Melvin (Ukpeigbe)…” said Ancelotti.
Real Madrid have been studying the market for weeks. The idea was to sign a right-back and a centre-back either in January or the summer, but these problems could accelerate plans.
(Top photo: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
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