News
MAR 12.11.2024
Just when it looked like Real Madrid were experiencing a crisis, following back-to-back home losses to FC Barcelona and AC Milan, they turned in one of their best performances of the season on Saturday. Vicente Vinícius impressive CA Osasuna side arrived at the Bernabéu as the fifth-placed team in LALIGA EA SPORTS, but were put to the sword by Vinícius and co. as Real Madrid won 4-0.
The Brazilian forward was excellent, scoring three goals in the victory to take his LALIGA EA SPORTS tally for the season to eight, the second-best record in the competition after only Robert Lewandowski and his 14 goals. Overall, Vinícius has found the back of the net 12 times across all competitions and Saturday’s was his second hat-trick in the space of three weeks, after also scoring three goals against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Speaking after the match, Vinícius stated: “I feel really good and I’m really happy about the goals. I feel like I’m playing my best football and that I can help the team like I did last season. I hope we can win many titles.”
His three goals gave the fans at the Bernabéu plenty to cheer about, but so too did the goal from Jude Bellingham, the other player to get on the scoresheet against Los Rojillos. The Englishman’s goal, the second of the game, was his first this season and there is an expectation that many more goals will follow now that he has rediscovered his scoring touch.
Bellingham was also delighted about his goal and the team’s overall display. He stated: “I think it was our most complete performance. We pressed high up, controlled the possession and created chances to score. It all started with the way we began the game. We started strong and kept it up for the whole game. All the players excelled today. I played as I always do, but this time I scored a goal.”
The only negative for Real Madrid was the fact that Rodrygo, Lucas Vázquez and Éder Militão all had to be substituted off with injuries during the victory, with Militão’s already confirmed to be another ACL, after he suffered the same injury last season. The Brazilian centre-back’s injury clearly affected his teammates, who were visibly stunned as he was carried off the pitch.
With Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Aurélien Tchouaméni already on the medical report, the list of absentees is growing. However, the backups who have come in have done well. Even backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and backup centre-back Raúl Asencio registered assists during the win over CA Osasuna on Saturday. Now it’s the November international break and, with no fixture until November 24th, when they visit CD Leganés, Carlo Ancelotti will hope to recover some of his players from injury in time for the run of fixtures through the winter.
Six points behind with a game in hand
There was further good news for Real Madrid on Sunday night, as their title rivals FC Barcelona suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Real Sociedad. Although the Catalan side remain top of the table, with 33 points after 13 games, Real Madrid are still just behind and have 27 points from 12 matches, having played one game fewer so far.
With that game in hand still to come, and with an ELCLASICO rematch in May, Real Madrid are absolutely still a contender in the LALIGA EA SPORTS title race, as they aim to retain the trophy they lifted last season. Not since 2006/07 and 2007/08 have Los Blancos managed to win back-to-back league titles, but that’s what they’re aiming for in 2024/25. And, if Vinícius keeps up his current form, they have every chance of achieving it.
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