Real Madrid: 3 players who must step up vs. Getafe with Eden Hazard out

LW Vinicius Junior

Finally, we come to the player on this list who has been the most impressive man for Real Madrid in the last few games. Vinicius put on a dribbling masterclass against Real Sociedad, winning a penalty and relentlessly attacking La Real’s back four. Without him, as with the major wins against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid earlier this year, Real Madrid wouldn’t have won that match.

Against Mallorca on that following Wednesday, Vinicius was, once again, the best player on the pitch for either team. He scored a wondergoal in the 2-0 home win and was as hard-working on both ends of the pitch as ever.

Vinicius takes a load off his left back with his intelligent positioning and capable defending, and there may only be a handful of wingers in La Liga who are as adept as he is defensively. When you watch how advanced Vini’s game is, it’s often hard to believe that he’s a 19-year-old playing in his first full season in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

The Brazilian left winger ensured that Real Madrid didn’t miss a beat in a must-win matchup against Sociedad a couple of weeks ago, and he can do the same without Hazard on the pitch against Getafe. That’s one of the reasons why Vinicius is so important in Real’s squad, and his display against Atleti in February is a reminder that he can destroy even the most tenacious of defenses.