Vinicius in message before derby: goals will return

Vinicius Junior continues to hold his starting position in Real Madrid's plans ahead of the capital derby against Atlético, but his level since the start of the season is opening up an increasing debate about the Brazilian winger's right to an undisputed starting spot.

Current numbers do not fully favour Vinicius Junior, as he has scored only one goal in 598 minutes of play, despite providing three assists. While the rest of the stars at Real Madrid have begun to raise their scoring and technical levels, the Brazilian player is still searching for his best version.

Vinicius Junior himself admitted to a sense of dissatisfaction with his output, after he wrote on his Instagram account following the match against Elche where he squandered many clear chances to score: "Goals will come back... I can't waste all these opportunities."

Interestingly, José Mourinho did not hesitate this time to substitute Vinicius Junior relatively early, having taken him off in the 68th minute. This decision reflects that the player's significant status does not necessarily mean he remains on the pitch for the entire match.

José Mourinho commented on his substitution, saying: "Tired, tired... Vinicius did a very good job in defensive organization, tired." Vinicius Junior accepted the decision without objection or showing any negative reaction, but his substitution opened up a new discussion about the possibility of competition on the left wing becoming more open.

The reason also lies in the brilliance of Jan Dhamandi, who was given the opportunity to play on the left side against Elche, an area where the player began to make his mark during his time with Leganés, before catching the eye in the FIFA World Cup.

Diemandi took the opportunity and delivered one of Real Madrid's standout attacking periods in the closing minutes, making him a genuine option for Mourinho, especially with Arda Güler continuing to perform at a level that makes him an important element in the team's lineup.

With Kylian Mbappé's brilliance, the presence of Bellingham, and the increasing importance of Güler, alongside the rise of Diomande, the competition for attacking positions at Real Madrid looks more complex. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior needs to quickly regain his effectiveness, especially ahead of the derby against Atlético.

According to the current data, there are no indications that Mourinho is thinking about leaving Vinicius Junior out of the starting lineup against Atlético, but his continued drop in scoring rate compared to the other forwards makes the discussion about the security of his starting place very present ahead of the derby.