Vinicius Jr has come under heavy criticism after Real Madrid’s dramatic victory over AEK Athens, with Spanish media questioning his performance and place in the starting lineup.
Vinicius Jr Faces Heavy Criticism After Real Madrid’s Champions League Victory
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has faced strong criticism from Spanish media despite his team’s dramatic 3-2 Champions League victory over AEK Athens.
Although Real Madrid secured another important European win on November 4, the Brazilian winger struggled to make an impact.
His disappointing performance has raised fresh questions about his place in Jose Mourinho’s starting lineup.
Vinicius receives shocking rating after AEK match
Spanish outlet ElDesmarque gave Vinicius a disappointing rating of just 2/10 after the match.
The Brazilian struggled to create chances and failed to complete a successful dribble.
He also lost possession 11 times and was criticised for not helping his teammates enough in defence.
Former Real Madrid star Jorge Valdano also questioned his performance, while journalist Tomas Roncero suggested that Vinicius had lost his usual attacking spark.
Vinicius faces growing competition at Real Madrid
Vinicius is also facing strong competition from young winger Yan Diomande, who has impressed under Mourinho this season.
Diomande had been performing well on the left wing, but he moved to the right when Vinicius returned to the starting lineup against AEK.
Some Spanish journalists now believe Diomande deserves to start ahead of the Brazilian.
However, Mourinho defended Vinicius after the match and said he was satisfied with his performance.
Real Madrid win despite Vinicius struggles
Real Madrid came from behind twice to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory in Greece.
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe scored before Federico Valverde netted the winning goal in stoppage time.
Vinicius was replaced in the 81st minute after another difficult night.
Despite the criticism, the 26-year-old remains an important player for Real Madrid.
However, with Diomande continuing to impress, Vinicius may need to improve his performances to strengthen his position in Mourinho’s team.
