An inexperienced Real Madrid side was beaten for a second time by CSKA Moscow in their final Champions League group stage game on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid, who had already clinched the top spot in Group G, were handed their worst-ever home defeat in Europe on a night in which manager Santiago Solari started the likes of Vinicius Junior, Javi Sanchez, Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marcos Llorente and Federico Valverde to face the Russians.
The visitors took a surprising 2-0 lead into half-time after Fedor Chalov and Georgi Schennikov took advantage of some shaky Los Blancos defending. CSKA then put the game out of reach in the 73rd minute through Arnor Sigurdsson who stroked home from the edge of the area
Here, we analyse the performance of their precocious young star Vinicius.
KEY STATISTICS
30-SECOND REPORT
The youngest non-Spanish player ever to start a Champions League game for Real Madrid at just 18 years and 152 days old, the Brazilian was a delightful mix of chaos and calm.
The right-footed winger operated on Real’s left with opposite footed Marco Asensio deployed on the right.
Those two formed the fulcrum of Madrid’s attacking exploits, cutting inside onto their stronger side to spank shots at CSKA’s veteran stopper Igor Akinfeev.
Neither got on the scoresheet, however, Vinicius was deeply impressive, outshining not just Asensio but the entire Real team.
Indeed, while around him the weakened XI struggled, the teenager thrived, unloading his dazzling feet and dangerous delivery. He was the standout star in the clash, and that won’t be the last time you’ll hear that said about him.
GOT RIGHT
Decision making – Yes, the twists, turns and trickery hallmark his display, but it was what the young Brazilian managed once he beat his man which caught the eye. Floated or driven low, his crosses into the box invited danger and had Karim Benzema been more alert on a couple of occasions Vinicius would have had an assist to his name. He didn’t just embrace this challenge, but thrived on it as well. His team-mates, however, did not.
GOT WRONG
Left-foot weakness – One area of concern is that against better and more experienced defenders, Vinicius could be look a little predictable. Now, that’s surprising to say considering his rapid feet make him so difficult to time for a tackle, yet his left foot is a massive contrast to what he can do with his right and he always looked to try and shift the ball onto his stronger side with every opportunity.
🎥 Vinicius Jr is magic. 🎩🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/zX7eUh7rL4
— Sandi (@splusk10) December 12, 2018
KEY MOMENTS
6th min CROSS: Immediate example of what he can produce with the ball at his feet. Delicious quick skill to beat right centre-back Kirill Nababkin and then his inviting low drive into the box is desperately cleared away.
17th min CROSS: Oh you’ll see this one all over social media. Sumptuous first touch sees him collect a long ball by twisting in the air and swivelling towards the byline. He storms into the box, cuts onto his favoured foot and lays the ball on a plate for Benzema who can’t find a finish.
23rd min SHOT: Brilliant first touch sees Vinicius drag the ball away from his marker after Isco played him through between the left channel. He burst forward into open space and again sharply cut onto his right foot to strike only for Akinfeev to smartly save low to his left.
55th min CROSS: Superb passage of play, this. He dazzles then destroys Nababkin again, races towards the edge of the box and crosses low for Isco who manufactures some room to shoot, only to disappointingly smack his effort wide.
VERDICT
Take Vinicius’ performance in isolation, away from the absolute calamity elsewhere on the pitch, and there is ample to be excited about. His confidence, coolness and cutting-edge ability was the absolute highlight of what was otherwise a dire display for Real.
RATING: 8/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
