This Sunday, Real Madrid heads to Vallecas, where Vinicius Jr. will confront a formidable opponent: Rayo Vallecano. The Brazilian winger has historically struggled against this team, having scored only once in eight encounters. His solitary goal came last May at the Santiago Bernabéu, a moment that brought relief after years of frustration against the Madrid suburb club. However, the statistics paint a daunting picture for Vinicius: four yellow cards and a complete inability to score away from home against Rayo.
Vallecas has proven to be an unwelcoming venue for the Brazilian. In four previous visits, he has managed just one victory, alongside two draws and one defeat. Notably, he has yet to find the back of the net at this stadium, a statistic that must be increasingly frustrating for him as he prepares for another encounter.
Ratiu: A Key Adversary
This weekend’s matchup will see Vinicius go head-to-head with Andrei Ratiu, the Romanian full-back known for his impressive defensive skills against the Real Madrid star. According to Gradient Sports, Ratiu is currently the fastest player across Europe’s top five leagues, clocking in at an astonishing 34.7 km/h—just ahead of Bellanova from Atalanta and Pedro Neto of Chelsea. Vinicius himself boasts a commendable speed of 34.4 km/h, placing him among the elite in this category.
Having faced each other multiple times now, Ratiu has consistently performed well against Vinicius. Their initial meetings included a tightly contested 0-0 draw at the Bernabéu, while last season’s clash at Vallecas ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw. The only time Ratiu’s side fell to Vinicius was during a narrow 2-1 defeat at home.
Vinicius’ Current Form
As Real Madrid gears up for this crucial match, Vinicius finds himself in a challenging phase. While his relationship with coach Xabi Alonso appears to have stabilized, he is currently experiencing a dry spell in front of goal. Since netting twice against Villarreal on October 10th, he has struggled to add to his tally in La Liga. This lack of scoring could weigh heavily on his confidence as he approaches another critical fixture.
With the stakes high and past performances looming over him, can Vinicius finally break his scoring drought at Vallecas? As Real Madrid aims to maintain their momentum in La Liga, all eyes will be on how he navigates this tough challenge against Rayo Vallecano.
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