Real Madrid's recent victory over Getafe made one important fact clear: the absence of Vinícius Júnior is deeply felt in the team. Despite the Brazilian's absence, the Whites managed to prevail, although the feelings remain mixed.
The Importance of Vinícius Júnior
Vinícius Júnior has proven to be a key player for Real Madrid in recent years. His speed, dribbling and ability to unbalance opposing defenses have given him a starring role in the Madrid offense.
However, statistics show that the team can achieve good results even when he isn't on the field.
Results without Vinícius Júnior
According to OptaJose data, Real Madrid has won 47 out of the 69 official matches in which Vinícius hasn't played. This represents a 68.11% win rate, a higher percentage than the 64.3% when Vinícius is on the field, with 182 wins in 283 games.
This difference, although significant, doesn't reflect the impact that Vinícius's presence has on the game. Despite the numbers, when the Brazilian plays, Madrid creates much more danger.
The feeling of threat with Vinícius on the Field
Although statistics suggest that Real Madrid can win without Vinícius, the feeling on the field is different. When the Brazilian is on the field, the team becomes much more unpredictable and dangerous. Opposing defenses fear his speed and ability to break through.
This is a factor that cannot be measured with numbers alone, but it clearly affects the opposing team's performance.
Mbappé's Difficult Adaptation
Another relevant aspect is the arrival of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid, who has so far failed to completely fill the void left by Vinícius. Although the Frenchman has had some freedom in recent games, such as at Anfield and against Getafe, his performance has been inconsistent.
In the match against Getafe, Mbappé scored a goal, but also missed several clear chances. This shows that he hasn't yet reached the expected level.
The Impact of Vinícius's Absence
Real Madrid is not only losing a key player, but also the imbalance that makes them feared in Europe. Although the team continues to win, as against Getafe, the absence of Vinícius shows that his impact goes beyond figures.
The absence of Vinícius creates a void that is noticeable in the attack and makes the team not as lethal as when he is present.