Despite not starting, Real Madrid’s Brazilian star Vinícius Jr. came off the bench and delivered a strong performance in the second half.
It was unusual to see a fully fit Vinícius sitting on the bench while Real Madrid took the field. Sunday’s La Liga clash against Real Oviedo surprised many with Vinícius missing from the starting XI. However, coach Xabi Alonso urged fans to get used to such rotations, making it clear that this will be a regular pattern throughout the season.
Last season, Vinícius struggled to hit his peak form, and his start to the new campaign hasn’t been great either. Alongside performance concerns, speculation about his contract situation has also made headlines. Against Oviedo, Alonso chose to leave one of his biggest stars out of the starting lineup.
Vinícius came on in the 63rd minute and initially looked off rhythm, but he soon came alive. Showing flashes of his best form, he assisted Kylian Mbappé for a goal and later scored one himself. With Mbappé’s brace and Vinícius’ strike, Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory.
Speaking after the match, Alonso praised Vinícius’ impact:
“After coming on, Vini played well. He was decisive in two goals. We’re happy with everyone — those who started and those who came off the bench. Everyone will get their chances in the upcoming matches.”
When asked about benching the Brazilian, Alonso emphasized the importance of squad rotation:
“Footballers are different, but everyone deserves equal respect. Decisions are always made thinking about the team. Today was one of those situations. Our playing style, workload, plans, and opponents mean these changes will keep happening. We want everyone to feel important, ready to start, and prepared for every match.”
Alonso also stressed the depth of the squad:
“We have more than 20 quality players, and we want to bring out the best in everyone. Sometimes starting is important, but sometimes contributing off the bench matters just as much — like Vini did today. This approach will continue throughout the season.”
It wasn’t just Vinícius who missed out on the starting XI. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Díaz, both starters in the opening match, were also rested. Dani Carvajal returned to the starting lineup, while Franco Mastantuono, who came on late in the previous game, was handed his first start.
Rodrygo got the nod ahead of Vinícius, despite recent reports linking him with a potential exit if a good offer comes in. Alonso’s decision to start him silenced some speculation, and the coach expressed satisfaction with Rodrygo’s display:
“Rodrygo played well. In the first half, he built good connections with Álvaro, Arda, and Kylian. He had some good shots too. Oviedo defended very deep, so finding spaces wasn’t easy, but I liked his performance. We need everyone to contribute like this.”
