Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has not played a single good match for the club this season, and it is getting to a point where everyone is a bit worried about his form going forward.
The signing and explosion of young star Yan Diomande has also put another spanner in the mix, with the Ivorian playing at an incredibly high level since being switched to the left side of the field. He has scored three brilliant goals in the last few games, and even if you disregard them, his performances have been good enough to keep Vinicius Junior on the bench, even when he is back from his suspension.
Now, Real Madrid have also been playing at a very high level. It has been some of the best football the team has played in recent years, and the midfield looks the best it has been since the retirement of German and Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos - which has obviously been a contributing factor, as well.
Yan Diomande seems to be a much better fit for Real Madrid than Vinicius Junior right now
Another contributing factor is Diomande, and some Vinicius Junior fans will not want to admit it. They would want to back their player, which is a bit weird considering both of these players play for the same club, which they are fans of first and foremost.
Be that as it may, Real Madrid are still looking much, much more fluid. No one hogs the ball anymore. The attack looks focused and energetic, and they keep making the right decisions. No one tries to force attacks all on their own.
The attack is also not slowing down anymore. It seems as if when Real Madrid had prime Vinicius Junior on the flank, and he used to cook every full-back under the sun, the way Real Madrid played then - with conviction, fluidity and balance - that is now what Real Madrid are playing like.
Real Madrid were incredibly efficient in attack against Racing Club, and they looked unbelievably good going forward. Diomande, Mbappe, Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham were playing really well, and the link-up and quick passing was very fun to watch.
In these last couple of years, that has not been the case many times. Not just because of Vinicius Junior, either - sometimes, Mbappe does not play well. Sometimes, he hoards the ball, or makes bad decisions. Sometimes it is someone else, or some other reason.
However, this season, whenever Vinicius Junior was playing, Real Madrid's attack looked very stale, and even the biggest fans of the player will agree to that, and to the fact that this Real Madrid, despite being without their favorite player, is cooking every team that faces them because it is finally playing like a team, with the right profiles.
Hopefully, whenever Vinicius Junior next plays for Real Madrid, this difference isn't felt, and the player is able to return to his best without any problems. But until then, it has to remain the Diomande show.
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