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The 22-year-old and the 25-year-old are making important contributions in terms of goals and assists from their wide positions in attack.
Vinícius Júnior and Ousmane Dembélé have each played a huge part in Real Madrid and FC Barcelona’s outstanding starts to the season and the two wide forwards continued their impressive campaigns with goals on the weekend.
Vini Jr. put Real Madrid in front for the first time in their eventual 4-1 win over RCD Mallorca, scoring for the fifth game in a row in all competitions, his best ever scoring streak. Meanwhile, Dembélé was named on FC Barcelona’s substitutes bench against Cádiz CF, keeping him fresh for their Champions League trip to Bayern Munich, but the Frenchman still put on an entertaining show of tricks and skills after coming on, adorning the 4-0 rout of the Andalusians with a brilliant strike deep in stoppage time.
Real Madrid have a leader in Vini Jr.
Vini Jr.’s second-half goal at the Bernabéu was made in Brazil, with compatriot Rodrygo doing a lot of the hard work with a marauding run across the pitch, beating three defenders before releasing his teammate. Vini Jr. still had the hardest part to do but produced an ice-cool strike in the latest demonstration of the work he has put in to improving his finishing in the last couple of years.
The 22-year-old has four goals and an assist in five LaLiga Santander games and is in unstoppable form right now, having also struck against RC Celta, RCD Espanyol, Real Betis and in the Champions League win over Celtic.
The Brazilian’s goal against RCD Mallorca saw him pass another milestone, becoming the youngest player to score in four consecutive LaLiga Santander matches for Real Madrid, usurping Gonzalo Higuaín.
Notably, his last four strikes have all served to give Los Merengues the lead in matches, putting Carlo Ancelotti’s side at ease against uncomfortable opponents.
The injury to captain Karim Benzema against Celtic put more pressure on the young Brazilian’s shoulders, but he took it in his stride and will be relishing next week’s Madrid Derby away to Atlético de Madrid.
Xavi is reaping the rewards after fighting to keep Dembélé
Vinícius’ form may have fuelled Real Madrid’s perfect start, but FC Barcelona are hot on their heels and Dembélé holds a lot of responsibility for that.
Many people expected the winger to leave Barça in the summer when his contract expired but coach Xavi Hernández was intent on keeping hold of him, making it clear to the club’s hierarchy that they had a phenomenal player on their hands – if only he could stay fit. The coach got his way, as Dembélé signed a new two-year contract in July, and the player has well and truly repaid his manager’s faith by making a blistering start to the campaign.
He has four goal contributions in his five league games and his goal against Cádiz CF meant he has already scored more times this season than he did in the entirety of the last campaign, when, to his credit, he did finish top of the assists chart.
And what a goal it was. Dembélé tormented the Cádiz CF defence, dazzling his way from the right wing towards the centre of the area, dancing past one defender twice just for good measure before powering his shot past Jeremías Ledesma.
Now in his fifth season at Barça, Dembélé is truly realising the enormous potential he has always had but has not always fulfilled. He has a coach who truly believes in him, who fought for him to stay at the club.
Provided he can stay relatively free of injuries, this could well be Dembélé’s best ever season. That makes FC Barcelona an even more formidable threat this season, so it is just as well that Real Madrid can count on an equally terrifying force up front in Vinícius. It promises to be a breath-taking tussle at the top.
