Real Madrid secured a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal draw at Allianz Arena.
It was an entertaining contest, with the two sides trading penalties in the second half. Vinicius Junior was the undisputed star of the match, as he bagged a brace.
It was yet another solid performance from the Br azilian international, who has emerged as Real Madrid’s go-to man in the UEFA Champions League.
Thanks to his two goals against Bayern, Vinicius has now been involved in 15 goals and 15 assists in the Champions League since the 2021/22 season – more than any other player during this period.
Vinicius, in fact, trumps both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, which underscores his importance in the Real Madrid team.
In addition to his goal involvements, Vinicius is also known for his ability to take on opposition defenders. Last night, for example, his quick dribble and pass to Rodrygo were key in unlocking the penalty in the second half.
To that end, Vinicius has now become the only player to complete 100+ take-on in the Champions League since the start of the 2021/2022 campaign.
Vinicius leads this tally by a significant margin, as he has completed at least 30 more dribbles than any other player in that time. Safe to say, the Br azilian international is the best dribbler in the world right now.
Vinicius’ exploits are not just limited to goals and dribbles. Since the 2021/22 campaign, the Real Madrid frontman has also created more chances than anyone else in the competition.
In addition, the winger has racked up more touches in the opposition box, with a whopping tally of 285 touches.
Such numbers are a reminder of Vinicius’ talents and why he will remain Real Madrid’s most important player even after the arrival of Mbappe.
For now, though, the Br azilian will be focusing on the task at hand, with Real Madrid looking for a victory in the second leg that will help them seal a ticket to Wembley.
Speaking after the game, Vinicius was happy with the result, stating, "I am very happy because the return leg is at the Santiago Bernabéu. We have to be focused to get to London, the 15th trophy is always possible. With Real Madrid everything is possible."