Real Madrid are gearing up to face Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday night, and after thrashing Manchester City in a very tough Round of 16 matchup with a Premier League title contender, Real will renew another European rivalry against the Bundesliga runaway leaders who are widely viewed as the world's best team this season.
Los Blancos are going to need all hands on deck, and, as part of that thinking, it sounds like they are going to give Vinicius Junior some extra rest after he shone for Brazil during the March international break.
According to a report from Diario AS's Sergio Lopez and Roddy Cons, Real Madrid are still weighing the option of resting Vinicius this weekend against Mallorca in the return to La Liga from the break. He could play off the bench or even rest the entire match as a means of making sure he is 100 percent for the matchup with Bayern Munich.
Vinicius Jr. is crucial vs. Bayern
We all remember how crucial Vini's runs off the ball were the last time Real Madrid and Bayern Munich clashed in the Champions League, which was another high stakes semifinals in 2023/24 - and may as well have been the real final that year, given Real faced Borussia Dortmund to win it all.
Vinicius Jr. is more dedicated to the Real Madrid cause than ever this season despite what a few cretins in the media may have told you this season. He is enjoying life under Alvaro Arbeloa, scoring goals and carrying attack after attack as the face of the franchise.
Mallorca are a tricky team to face in La Liga and love a good upset, especially when they are at home on the island. So resting Vinicius Jr. would be a risk. But he can be there off the bench if Real need him, and, let's be honest, with a healthy Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid should be able to beat Mallorca without the Brazilian superstar off the left hand side.
Bayern is the real key. Real Madrid need everything from their team in that one, especially Vini, who has the best matchup of any Madrid player when facing the right side of the Bayern defense. Not that they are bad there, but it's the one spot where Real could have an advantage, utilizing the full extent of Vinicius's explosive quickness and trickery.