Vinicius shines as Real Madrid return to top of LaLiga
Vinicius is on fire. I remember in the first game of the season, in Vitoria, Ancelotti played Benzema with Bale and Hazard and it seemed reasonable. Last season, neither Rodrygo nor Vinicius were great support for the Frenchman, who carried all the weight up front. Vinicius always did more than Rodrygo, but he didn't seem to find the final pass or goal. But that same day, when he came on with half an hour to go, he scored a good headed goal. In the next away match, against Levante, he scored two great goals. It then became apparent that Ancelotti was giving him good finishing tips.
Between that and the fact that Hazard is still in the same position as before, he regained his place and now has as much weight in the team as Benzema. In the absence of the latter, who, as he is playing with France, will have to rest from time to time, yesterday it was up to him to influence the game and he did just that. In his two goals he showed what he didn't have before but has right now: coolness in his finishing. The first was a low curling shot; the second, a dink over Casilla. He already has seven goals in LaLiga and two in the Champions League. In the whole of last season he scored four and two respectively.
Real Madrid go top of La Liga
Real Madrid won against Elche because of him and his precision in front of goal. That was what Elche lacked, they played better, controlled the game and looked good in the box, with dangerous link-up play between Pastore, Boyé and Lucas Pérez, but their finishing let them down. They also made life difficult for themselves by giving away the ball for the first goal, and then had to deal with the sending off of Raúl Guti for a second yellow card after a challenge on Toni Kroos. When Elche finally got their goal, it was too little, too late. Elche deserved more, but Vinicius gave Madrid all three points.