Following a victory against CF Pachuca in their last match, Real Madrid looked in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages as the group leaders.
Dean Huijsen had been highly impressive, Gonzalo Garcia was a revelation, there was defensive stability, and the midfield seemed to operate in a smooth flow.
However, there was one particular Real Madrid winger who had not clicked yet, and that was Vinicius Junior. Funnily enough, some fans blamed it on his hairstyle while another bunch believed he was out of form and should be benched.
But the final group stage match against RB Salzburg gave him a chance to regain confidence heading into the round of 16, where the Merengues will be up against tough opponents.
Not only did Vinicius regain his confidence, but he also showed the world why he still is one of the best players in the world by putting on an incredible display against the Austrian side.
The 24-year-old was well-connected with his teammates from the midfield and played through the middle instead of the wings, where he is usually considered dangerous.
He found spaces with ease and was on the verge of opening the scoring in the 19th minute, but the Salzburg shotstopper was up to the task.
However, just 5 minutes before half time, after Fran Garcia won the ball and passed it ahead, Bellingham played a sumptuous through ball to the Brazilian, who remained calm, dribbled past the defence, and netted the ball home.
Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring Real Madrid’s first goal against RB Salzburg. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
That was not the only piece of action he was involved in, as he masterfully executed a backheel assist – reminiscent of Guti – for Fede Valverde to double that lead.
Other than his involvement in two goals, according to Sofascore statistics, he also recorded 2 key passes and created 1 big chance for Los Blancos.
Xabi Alonso heaped praise on the two-time UCL winner, who loved his defensive work, especially the way he tracked back and pressed high up the pitch.
Hopefully, this match was the start of something special from Vinicius, who promised to do ‘10x more’ but instead looked underwhelming during the second half of the season.
If the display in Philadelphia is just a teaser of how Vini will operate under Xabi, then Europe should tighten its seatbelt and be prepared for something special next season.