In the Zone: The strength and splendor of Vinícius Júnior
In the FedEx Performance Zone, UEFA Technical Observers David Moyes and Aitor Karanka praised the Real Madrid forward for his hat-trick against Dortmund.
Carlo Ancelotti remarked, “You don’t often see a player produce a second half like he did today.” “Apart from the goals, he played with an incredible energy and intensity and personality.”
Vinícius Júnior, the hat-trick hero of the most recent home comeback by the defending European champions as they overcame a two-goal halftime deficit to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2, was the guy the Real Madrid coach was complimenting.
For UEFA technical observers David Moyes and Aitor Karanka at the Santiago Bernabéu, the 24-year-old’s direct running at the opposition proved to be an excitingly essential component of Madrid’s attacking game, and it was his first UEFA Champions League treble.
As we shall show in this analysis in the FedEx Performance Zone, Vinícius Júnior finished the game with the most line ball carries (eight), and his attacking production increased as Madrid’s energy increased in the second half.
“Vinícius Júnior started to people 1v1 and got more joy as the game went on,” said Moyes. “He saw the room to get at people.”
The Madrid forward’s second goal of the evening, which made it 4-2, is a prime example of this. Technically speaking, Madrid’s No. 7 is impressive for his speed as he charges upfield with the ball at his feet, leaving Emre Can in his wake.
It’s important to see how Kylian Mbappé’s run distracts Waldemar Anton, a Dortmund substitute. As the striker cuts inside before launching a fantastic low shot past Gregor Kobel, Niklas Süle, the player attempting to stop Vinícius Júnior’s path, is unable to react because his position shows he is worried about the Brazilian passing him on the outside.
“Call it old-fashioned wing play if you want – direct and,” said Moyes. “It’s all about getting at people.”
Ancelotti perceived “more intensity, more quality, more pressure on the ball” in the second half, although his squad had been “timid” in the first. Player of the Match Vinícius Júnior exemplified this by recovering more balls after the break (five versus three previously).
Another example of Vinícius Júnior at his peak pace can be seen in the second part of the video. He found more and more room to Dortmund in the second half, as the commentators noted, and here he is, in a 1v1 situation with Can, in plenty of space out on the left.
Can is beaten by his quick feet, and he then runs past two more defenders before putting in a low cross. Mbappé’s movement is also noteworthy, as he attacks the front-post area and once more attracts the attention of the visiting defenders.
Dortmund’s headache increased as Vinícius Júnior entered more 1v1 scenarios. Thus, precisely 143 days after he scored against them in the Wembley final, the Brazilian avenged the German team once more in a manner.