Real Madrid may be struggling defensively, playing without five senior defenders and starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in Greece on Wednesday night, but the goals were flying in as Los Blancos defeated Olympiacos in the Champions League.
Kylian Mbappé’s four-goal haul grabbed the headlines and made him just the fourth player in Real Madrid history to score four times in a single European Cup/Champions League match. The Frenchman joins Cristiano Ronaldo on that list, as well as Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stefano.
But there were also two assists in a strong performance from Vinicius Junior, who has come under fire this season over his frustrated demeanour and strained relationship with Xabi Alonso. Reports claim that the Brazilian is refusing to extend his contract with things between them as they are right now, but there was at least a congratulatory embrace caught on camera this week.
For Vinicius Jr, those two assists were his 26th and 27th for Real Madrid in the Champions League. The 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up is now tied joint second on the club’s all-time list in Europe’s elite competition, matching Karim Benzema’s tally of 27. The record, held by Ronaldo, is 31.
