Rodrygo and Vinicius, Real Madrid players
Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images
Xabi Alonso now has the responsibility of deciding Real Madrid’s attacking balance. The left-wing slot has traditionally belonged to Vinicius Jr. in recent seasons, and deservedly so.
But his performances over the past year have left a lot to be desired. While he has shown glimpses of his best version, it has come sparingly and consistently enough.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo, having stayed at Real Madrid during the summer, is now pushing for a starting berth on the left, competing with Vinicius.
Having come off the bench against Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, the 24-year-old forward played a key role in Real Madrid’s third goal before setting Eduardo Camavinga for the fourth, presenting himself as a compelling alternative for the left-wing slot.
Here are four reasons why he should start ahead of his compatriot.
When Real Madrid signed Kylian Mbappe, the club did not just add another superstar, they changed the shape of their attack. The pairing of the Frenchman with Vinicius was certainly a mouth-watering one on paper, but it has not always clicked on the field.
Vinicius thrives when paired on a traditional No. 9 to maximize his game. His most devastating partnership came with Karim Benzema. By March of the 2021/22 season, the duo had already combined for eight goals – the most in Europe’s top five leagues at the time.
By the end of that year, they’d assisted each other 18 times, the highest tally of any duo in Europe. Those numbers underline Vinicius’ reliance on a classic all-around striker.
Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Real Madrid players
Rodrygo seems to work better with Mbappe than Vini. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
With Benzema gone and Mbappe leading the line, that old formula does not work the same way. Rodrygo, on the other hand, thrives in fluid combinations, quick exchanges, and off-ball runs – exactly what Mbappe needs alongside him.
Games are often decided by small margins, and set pieces are one of those margins. Rodrygo offers more in this area: he has shown competence in delivering precise corners or threatening free kicks.
With Dani Carvajal aging, and Trent Alexander-Arnold not guaranteed to start every week due to injuries or tactical rotations, Real Madrid will often need someone reliable to step up over dead balls.
Rodrygo’s ability to add that extra layer of threat makes him more valuable as a starter.
Looking at Real Madrid’s likely front three of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Franco Mastantuono, none of them is known for aerial dominance. This has reduced the reliance on crosses into the box – something that their right-back, Trent, excels at, but it also makes them one-dimensional at times.
Rodrygo offers a rare alternative – he is strong in the air and knows how to attack crosses. That unforgettable header against Manchester City in 2022 was not a fluke. Adding him into the lineup could add another dimension to Madrid’s attacking play.
Vinicius, Rodrygo of Real Madrid
Healthy competition could benefit everyone. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Vinicius has long held the left-wing role as his by default. While deserving, that security can dull the competitive edge. If Rodrygo is given the starting nod, it does not signal a rejection of Vinicius – it demands accountability.
The 25-year-old would need to make a stronger case during his substitute appearances; Rodrygo would need to sustain high levels over more minutes. That kind of internal competition sharpens standards and keeps complacency in check.
There is no denying that that Vinicius offers more raw creativity, unpredictability, and relentless directness. That is true – his one-on-one ability and sheer explosiveness are unmatched. But those qualities do not always translate into balance when paired with Mbappe.
Real Madrid risk becoming predictable if both rely on similar moves. Others may suggest Rodrygo lacks consistency, which has been the case this year.
But consistency is often the product of rhythm and trust; giving him more starts could be the key to unlocking his full reliability. Furthermore, Rodrygo’s tactical discipline and defensive work rate also gives him the edge in staying compact when Real Madrid are under pressure.
Real Madrid players celebrating
Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s winning streak came to a shocking halt this past weekend in the derby when Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side tore them apart ruthlessly and took all three points.
Still wounded and recovering from the result, however, Los Blancos have simply no respite as they have now travelled to Kazakhstan for their next game in the UEFA Champions League, an early kickoff against Kairat Almaty.
The Kazakh club is only the second team from their nation to ever qualify for the premier European competition and they are in their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign.
Drawing Real Madrid, needless to say, was a dream come true for many of the players in the team, and their reaction after the draw said a lot about what it meant to them. Tomorrow, their dream comes true.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Kairat Almaty vs Real Madrid.
The Madrid derby was always expected to be a close battle, especially given the money both neighbouring clubs had spent in the summer to fortify their squads.
A 5-2 humbling, however, is something no one saw coming and it is safe to say Real Madrid were taken to the cleaners and left red-faced.
Xabi Alonso’s men entered the game as one of Europe’s most in-form teams but left the Riyadh Air Metropolitano not only having lost their winning streak but being humiliated in grand style.
Needless to say, the result would have left the locker room traumatised, given that it came completely out of the blue and Alonso will thus have a massive task in keeping the dressing room together.
Over the past few years, Los Blancos have not had similar lows but Carlo Ancelotti has always had the right setup to ensure players do not ponder on the past and move on unfazed. It will be critical to see if Alonso has the same effect on the squad.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid player
Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal are injured. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury earlier this month placed the player out till November, and the situation appeared set for Dani Carvajal to return to the role of a regular starter and put a strong foot in Xabi Alonso’s plans.
The latter, however, went down injured during the Madrid derby and is now expected to be out of action for close to a month. Real Madrid, thus, no longer has a starting right-back in their squad.
Xabi Alonso now stares a very tricky situation in the eye as he must identify a new player to count on as a regular in a foreign position and he does not have too many candidates to pick from.
Raul Asencio, who played at right-back after Carvajal’s substitution in the derby, is an option to continue in the department but his relative lack of form does not assure him the role.
The name of Federico Valverde thus sounds loud in the Spanish capital, especially given how he was Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred option in big games last season at right-back.
Other potential options include Alvaro Carreras, David Alaba, and youngster David Jimenez, all of whom bring their own set of pros and cons. Alonso’s decision over who will take over at right-back, needless to say, is critical not just for tomorrow but the coming month.
Kairat Almaty’s making it to the UEFA Champions League itself was a miracle and the players of the Kazakhstan-based club were understandably stoked to have drawn Real Madrid at home.
Going purely based on strength, the clash should be a walk in the park for Los Blancos but it is now turning out to be one of the team’s most difficult fixtures of the season owing to external factors.
The travel to Kazakhstan itself, to start with, is a major problem for Real Madrid as the flight is a staggering eight hours, making it a long and tiring journey to even get to the venue.
Further, there is a three-hour time difference between Spain and the match venue, making it all the more difficult to adapt to the new setting and match-timing.
All that, coupled with the fact that the climate in Almaty is dry and cold, makes it complicated for Real Madrid to bring their best game to the fixture, especially given that they have had hardly any rest after the Madrid derby that ended in heartbreak.