Vinícius > Mbappé: Real Madrid’s true star proves himself once more vs Espanyol

Real Madrid’s victory over Espanyol on Saturday evening saw the club’s true ‘star man’ come to the fore when his teammates needed him most.

Los Blancos are of course fresh off making it four wins on the trot, across all competitions.

After getting the club’s European campaign up and running with a comfortable victory over Stuttgart in midweek, Carlo Ancelotti’s troops turned their attentions back towards matters on the domestic front.

An hour into a La Liga meeting with Espanyol, however, Real found themselves a goal down, and looking in serious trouble…

Cometh the hour, though, and cometh the man…

With his side looking completely bereft of ideas in the final third, Vinícius Jr, afforded a timely rest this evening, was introduced off the bench.

And what a difference the Brazilian went on to make.

Adding some sorely missed individual brilliance into the hosts’ frontline, Vinícius laid on an assist for Rodrygo’s go-ahead goal, before scoring one himself, en route to what in the end marked a one-sided 4-1 rout.

With Kylian Mbappé toiling, Rodrygo failing to produce the goods and others waiting for some inspiration from those around him, it was Vinícius who stepped up to the plate.

The 24-year-old has been a regular recipient of criticism over the early weeks of the new campaign, but Saturday’s action made one fact clear as day once more – Vinícius is still Real Madrid’s true key man, despite the summer arrival of attacking partner-in-crime Mbappé.

Conor Laird – GSFN