(Football news) Real Madrid vs Girona FC was one of the most highly anticipated matches of the season, a top-of-the-table clash between the LALIGA EA SPORTS leaders and the second-placed title challengers from Catalonia. Vini Jr certainly knew how important it was, as he turned in one of the best performances of his career to ensure the three points never came close to leaving the Bernabéu. It finished 4-0 to Los Blancos, and the Brazilian was involved in all four of the goals.
For the first, which arrived in the sixth minute, he was more than just involved. The 23-year-old picked up the ball and cut inside, before burying a stunning long-range strike in the far corner, just out of the reach of Girona FC goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga but just inside the post. It was reminiscent of his blast against Manchester City in last season’s Champions League, with Vinícius having added long-range shooting to his arsenal.
Even if he didn’t score again, Vini Jr was only just getting started. In the 35th minute, he produced yet another magic moment, this time curling an outside-of-the-boot pass down the left flank and perfectly into the path of Jude Bellingham for the Englishman to double the scoring. It was the kind of pass that the Bernabéu has seen time and time again from Luka Modrić, but from few others. But Vini Jr has added this to his inventory of skills too.
Into the second half, the Brazilian also set up the third goal for Real Madrid, even if this technically didn’t count as an assist. After dribbling away from two Girona FC defenders in the 54th minute and drawing a save from Gazzaniga, Bellingham was there to nudge in his second goal of the game and it was all thanks to this latest piece of brilliance from the Real Madrid No.7, who wasn’t done yet.
Just past the hour mark, Vini Jr set up yet another goal, this time by pinching possession back from Yan Couto. That defensive intervention put the ball in Rodrygo’s control and the younger Brazilian did the rest.
Vini Jr is the complete package: Shooting, passing, dribbling and defensive effort
When the Brazilian was substituted off in the 77th minute, he earned a standing ovation from the Bernabéu crowd, who have seen many special performances over the years and who understood that this was one of them.
After the match, Carlo Ancelotti went as far as to state: “It was a top game from Vinícius. He is really important for us when he plays like this and with this attitude. For me, he is the best in the world.”
Those four goals on Saturday evening highlighted just how far Vini Jr has come in such a short space of time. The first, the goal he scored himself, was all about his improved shooting range, while the second showcased his passing, the third his dribbling and the fourth his desire to get back and contribute defensively.
Vini Jr has always had supreme dribbling ability and is the top player in LALIGA EA SPORTS this season for successful dribbles per game, with 3.0 per 90 minutes. But, the evolution in the other three aspects speaks to the work he puts in day in day out on the training ground. As he has stated time and time again after big wins: “I want to get even better.”
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