Real Madrid managed to eek out a last gasp victory on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 La Liga season against Espanyol 2-1, thanks to a scrappy goal from substitute striker Carlos Espi, but it was another disappointing display from the Merengues that seals just how much work Jose Mourinho has to do in order to get this team to win the title again (while Barcelona destroyed Elche 5-0 in their opener).
No player was more disappointing for Real Madrid on Saturday night than star left winger Vinicius Junior. While he proved a handful in the middle of the park when carrying possession with eight fouls drawn, Real Madrid are not paying VInicius Jr. his new wages to just carry the ball up the pitch.
They are paying Vini to be a superstar who creates chances for himself and others and scores goals with tangible assists. Vinicius Jr. literally had no chances created for his teammates, and the Brazilian international was nowhere near getting into threatening positions to score goals.
Yan Diomande is good news for Vinicius Junior for now
There is hope for Vinicius Jr., though, beyond the fact that he is more talented than what he showed in this game. But Real Madrid have a secret weapon who can help Vini in Yan Diomande, the 140 million euro signing from RB Leipzig.
While Diomande could potentially be a bad thing long term for Vini if he struggles and Florentino Perez decides to sign Michael Olise and replace Vini with Diomande on the left wing, he is, in th short term, a great thing for the two time Champions League winner.
Yan Diomande came off the bench to spell Arda Guler on the right wing, which is a position he is going to start in every week once Jose Mourinho fully integrates him into his tactics and the Real Madrid starting lineup.
The former Leipzig star becoming a fixture on the right wing is excellent news for Vinicius, because he is going to be another explosive option on the wings who can carry the ball, create for his teammates, and get into scoring positions. He looked so good off the bench for Madrid against Espanyol that he should be ready to start as soon as this coming week of La Liga action, too.
Wingers come in pairs, and the best teams have two great wingers. Vinicius Jr. had no help on the right side last season, which made it even harder for him to get space, especially when Rodrygo Goes was not in the lineup. Diomande is a more natural fight on the right wing than Rodrygo was, so once the Ivorian gets going, that will be an even bigger boon for Vini with more space for the Brazilian to operate.
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