Despite criticism, Vinicius Junior performs well for Real Madrid

Real Madrid extended their winning streak in the Champions League this season after defeating Juventus 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

At first glance, the result seemed like a comfortable victory: nearly 30 shots on goal, a Jude Bellingham goal, and complete control of the game. However, behind the final score, this game actually exposed Madrid's offensive instability.

Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Tim was aggressive but lacked efficiency, especially in the first half. They had only 14 shots in total, only four of which were on target, with Juventus defending tightly and blocking the space in front of Michele Di Gregorio. In fact, defender Eder Militao had the most shots on goal in the first half.

However, the second half came from an individual action by Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian star wasn't a goalscorer or assister, but he was decisive in the most dangerous moments, leading to Bellingham's solo goal.

Vinicius' crucial role behind Bellingham's goal

The decisive moment occurred when Vinicius broke through the Juventus defense with his characteristic speed and agility. He beat several opposition players before firing a powerful shot that hit the post. After the ball rebounded, Bellingham immediately took advantage of the opportunity to ensure Real Madrid's victory.

This performance proves that Vinicius still plays an important role in Alonso's team structure. All the while, the coach has tried to rebalance the offensive line by giving Kylian Mbappe more space.

However, Vinicius' actions show that he is still a different factor, especially when Real Madrid struggles to break through the opposition defence.

This moment also reminds the public of Real Madrid's old style in the Carlo Ancelotti era: victory does not come from a perfect system, but from the individual talents of the players.

For Vinicius, this performance could be the ticket back to the heart of the game in the next big games, including the El Clasico against Barcelona.

Alonso is still looking for the best formula

Despite the positive results, Alonso still has a lot of work to do in the offensive area. Madrid scored just one goal from 14 shots in the second half, despite creating an expected goals opportunity of 1.74.

Juventus, on the other hand, was more open in the second half. They threatened and created 10 shots and had an expected goals ratio of 0.51.

Thibaut Courtois made several key saves to maintain a slim lead, while Di Gregorio performed well on the other hand, blocking Madrid's golden opportunities many times. Both sides had their moments of luck and bad luck at different moments, but Real Madrid came out on top.

This victory may not be the most convincing, but it is enough to keep the momentum going before the upcoming El Clasico.