“It’s Vinicius Junior’s best game (of the season),” said Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid, again without the injured Jude Bellingham but with a brace from the 23-year-old Brazilian, beat Valencia 5-1 on Saturday, capping a week that began with a 3-0 Champions League win over Braga, in which Vinicius Jr also scored.
Thus ended a special day for Vinicius Jr. Last night’s home match against Valencia is another one further away from the away fixture in May, when he stopped the match at Mestalla after another incident of racist abuse.
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Vinicius Jr, who was red-carded in that match following a brawl with Valencia players in the 97th minute, left the field making “To Segunda Division!” (‘to the second division’) gestures to the relegation-threatened home side’s fans — something that has not been forgiven in Valencia.
The local press has been vehement with the Madrid forward, with some tabloid covers showing covers with photographs of him mocked up as Pinocchio. During Saturday’s general assembly, Madrid president Florentino Perez took the opportunity to defend his player.
“That they transform the victim into the guilty party is one of the biggest embarrassments in Spanish football,” said Perez.
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Twenty minutes before kick-off at the Bernabeu last night, the travelling Valencia fans cheered louder than the Madrid ones — for whom it takes some time to get going — but they were quick to react with whistles.
During the line-up announcements, the main target of the Valencianistas was Vinicius Jr, who was, by far, the most booed. After the Brazilian’s first touches, in which he failed to complete a dribble, it looked as if that reaction might be getting to him.
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But a match was being played too up in the stands.
Madrid supporters made their presence felt. They had already chanted “Vinicius Junior!” in the 17th minute after two impressive attempts by their No 7 but, this time, the chant “Vini, bailalos!” (“Vini, dance!”) rang out.
In the 28th minute, Vinicius Jr booted the ball unnecessarily while the game was stopped and those in the Valencia stand called him a “fool”. In the 34th minute, when Jose Pepelu was shown a yellow card for fouling Vinicius Jr, Valencia fans chanted their player’s name.
Vinicius Jr, however, replied with his footballing skills…
It was the 42nd minute when he eyed countryman Rodrygo with the ball on the right wing, ran full-speed into the box, waited for his team-mate’s cross and, when it arrived, surprised everyone once again. With defender Thierry Correia gazing helplessly on, Vinicus Jr threw himself flat on the turf, finishing with his chest to double Madrid’s lead.
Dani Carvajal had opened the scoring three minutes in but Vinicius Jr’s first goal, on the verge of half-time, completely disarmed Valencia.
He made the, “Calm down, calm down. I’m here” gesture that Cristiano Ronaldo patented during his time with Madrid and then rejoiced with his team-mates and danced. On this occasion, he was accompanied by Eduardo Camavinga on the ‘forbidden steps’.
The Bernabeu, packed with its highest attendance of the season (72,475) roared: “Vinicius Junior, lolololo!” Some fans also jeered and directed insults towards the Valencia supporters.
It didn’t take Madrid long into the second half to seal the game. In the 49th minute, Vinicius Jr scored again, celebrating the three-goal lead with a dance in the corner of the pitch closest to the private box where his family and friends were watching. Close by in the stands, Bellingham, Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni reflected his happiness.
After all the celebrations, Vinicius Jr took a moment for an embrace on the touchline with Ancelotti, the coach who launched his career.
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He did not stop working until the Italian replaced him in the 82nd minute with Joselu, coming close to a hat-trick on several occasions.
The fans were enjoying themselves, calling for a ‘manita’ (five goals), which eventually came in the 84th minute after a second of the night from Rodrygo — who had also assisted both of Vinicius Jr’s goals.
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After the match, Vinicius Jr tweeted from the dressing room.
“Fake newwwws!!!”, he wrote in response to accusations from Valencia downplaying the incidences of racism that he suffered.
Fake newwwws!!! 😂 pic.twitter.com/n2ZTqgEP5v
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) November 11, 2023
Vinicius Jr will now join Brazil for the final international break of the calendar year with six goals and four assists in 13 games for Madrid this season — he is averaging one scoring contribution every 97.5 minutes.
He leaves for that camp, and matches in Colombia and at home to Argentina in the Maracana, with a debt settled against Valencia and a desire to continue growing.
(Top photo: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)