As the Champions League derby draws close, all eyes are on Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid’s diamond in the rough. His wizardly dribbling skills and relentless attempts to assault the goal have won the hearts of Madrid’s fan base. However, his role as a forward demands him to leave an indelible mark on the scoreboard—a challenge that has proven to be a tough nut to crack of late.
In the lead-up to the face-off with Rayo, Vinicius Jr’s performance was notably underwhelming with just one goal and an assist to his name in the preceding ten matches. However, he broke the dry spell with an impressively executed goal against the Vallecas team, bringing his seasonal tally to 19. This timely resurgence comes just as Real Madrid girds up for a derby showdown with Atlético Madrid, a team that Vinicius Jr has some unfinished business with.
The prodigious Brazilian’s track record against Atlético Madrid is, to say the least, far from stellar. In 16 appearances, he has managed to contribute merely a single goal and assist. This lone goal was scored in the 2022-23 quarter-final at the Bernabéu, in a gruelling match that went into extra time, concluding in a 3-1 victory for Madrid. Vinicius Jr’s goal came as the coup de grâce against a visibly drained and overwhelmed Atlético defence.
The young forward’s struggle to find the net against Atlético Madrid is quite perplexing, given his commendable accomplishments against other formidable teams. His 104 goals for Madrid equal the record of the legendary Ronaldo Nazario. He has also proven his mettle against top-tier teams like Barcelona, having scored seven goals in 19 matches, Liverpool with five goals in five games, Dortmund with four in two, and Manchester City with two in nine games.
Despite his goal drought against Atlético Madrid, Vinicius Jr has still been instrumental in Madrid’s victories. In his inaugural derby at the Metropolitano, he secured a contentious penalty—a decision challenged by Atlético but upheld by LaLiga’s newly introduced VAR system. In the 2021-22 season at the Bernabéu, Vinicius Jr delivered two assists, setting up Benzema and Asensio for goals that clinched a 2-0 victory for Madrid.
Vinicius Jr’s encounters with Atlético Madrid have not always been confined to the pitch. He once fell victim to an infamous head-biting incident by Atlético’s then-defender Tachi during a reserve team match. His subsequent appearances at the Metropolitano were marred by hostile chants of racial slurs and an unsettling incident involving a doll dressed in his jersey hanging from a bridge. Despite these ordeals, Vinicius Jr has held his own, proving that his talent and resilience are a force to be reckoned with.
As the Champions League derby looms, it remains to be seen whether Vinicius Jr will finally break his Atlético Madrid curse and help his team secure a victory in this highly anticipated clash.
