Why the world should be scared of this Real Madrid team

Real Madrid secured a composed 2-0 victory at home against Girona, winning without unnecessary spectacle but with efficiency. The scoreline could have been more decisive had the team been sharper in attack—they registered 22 shots, yet only five were on target.

More than half of those efforts (12) came from Vinícius and Mbappé, the dynamic attacking duo that fuels Ancelotti’s ambitions for the remainder of the season.

It wasn’t a match where both showcased their full goalscoring prowess—only Vinícius found the net, and even that came late in the game. However, their performance signalled trouble for future opponents in both Spain and Europe.

Mbappé-Vini Jr: a scary link-up

Mbappé, in particular, endured a frustrating evening. He failed to capitalise on Lewandowski’s scoreless outing against Las Palmas, missing the chance to close the gap in the race for the league’s top scorer. The Polish striker remains in the lead with 20 goals, while Mbappé sits at 17. The Frenchman took six shots, three of which were on target, but each time he was denied by Gazzaniga.

His best opportunity to make it 3-0 came after a perfectly controlled setup, yet his left-footed strike lacked precision and went straight at the goalkeeper. Despite this, his overall contribution was impressive—he created five clear chances, registered an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.93 (the highest in the match), and assisted Vinícius for Madrid’s second goal.

That goal came in the second half, during a counterattack initiated from the left flank. Mbappé played a well-timed through ball to Vinícius, who unleashed a shot that, after deflecting off a defender, found its way into the net.

The Brazilian had been active throughout the match, recording six shots (one on target and another hitting the crossbar). He also completed two successful dribbles out of four attempts, though his numerous explosive runs—one of his trademarks—aren’t counted in that statistic.

Interestingly, Mbappé outperformed Vinicius Jr in dribbling efficiency, completing three take-ons from five attempts. Both players were exceptional on the ball, with Mbappé particularly standing out—he completed 91% of his passes (52 out of 57), while Vinícius recorded 81% (29 out of 36).

‘I saw Vinícius at his best, he was unstoppable’

Their on-field chemistry has been a work in progress this season. Initially, they struggled to coexist on the left flank, with Mbappé appearing somewhat uncomfortable leading the attack. However, with time and adjustments, their partnership has flourished, benefiting Madrid tremendously. Together, they have combined for 45 goals (28 for Mbappé, 17 for Vinícius) and 16 assists (four and 12, respectively).

Mbappé had already demonstrated his brilliance with a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, and though he didn’t score this time, Ancelotti still praised his performance: “I was happy with the assist he gave to Vinícius. He was very dangerous on multiple occasions. His ball control was spectacular. What matters to him are victories.”

As for Vinícius, it seems he is regaining his best form. Ancelotti was equally pleased with his display: “I saw Vinícius at his best. He could have been more clinical, but in the second half, he was unstoppable. Every time he had the ball, he made the right decisions. He played at his true level.”

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Original article written by Manu de Juan, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.