Real Madrid began their continental campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday, as the hosts won the game 2-1 against Marseille, thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty brace. While winning their first Champions League game of the season was not much of a surprise, it was Alonso’s starting XI that raised eyebrows. Rodrygo, who was heavily linked with an exit all summer, started in place of his Brazilian co-star in a three-man attack, with the latter coming off as a second-half substitute.
Vinicius has been one of the best, if not the best, players in the Champions League in the last four seasons. Last season, he finished as Madrid’s top scorer in the tournament as they lost to Arsenal in the quarter-finals. However, when asked how Vini reacted to being named on the bench, Alonso fired a clear warning, meant not just for the Brazilian, but the entire squad.
“We’re in a demanding stretch, we need everyone, there will be moments for everyone. The important thing is that everyone feels prepared and feels important, because they are and will be throughout the season,” said Alonso. “If there are private conversations [with Vini], they stay at Valdebebas. No one is going to play every game. No one can feel offended for not playing a game. Vini has come on well. The substitutions had a good impact on the game.”
It’s not the first time Vinicius has been left out of the starting XI this season. He was a surprise exclusion for the game against newly-promoted Real Oviedo last month, with Alonso asserting that the 25-year-old “can have a big impact off the bench”. Madrid have played five games and Vini has appeared in each of those five fixtures, but has not managed to play the full 90 minutes even once. He has, however, scored two goals in the league and averages a direct goal contribution every 82 minutes.
Having maintained a perfect record across all competitions so far, Alonso’s troops will meet La Liga’s surprise packages from this season this weekend. Espanyol have won thrice and drawn one game to find themselves in third position on the league table. Alonso will have his work cut out amid a crisis in defence, with Trent Alexander-Arnold picking a hamstring injury within five minutes after kick-off against Marseille, while Dean Huijsen will be serving suspension after receiving a straight red against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
