Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has shed light on his decision to leave Vinícius Júnior out of the starting line-up in their 3-0 La Liga victory over Real Oviedo on Sunday.
Vinícius and Trent Alexander-Arnold both began the match on the bench, with Alonso later revealing that the choice was purely tactical.
Despite his substitute role, Vinícius made an impact when introduced, scoring in the 90th minute to seal the win after Kylian Mbappé’s earlier brace.
The victory extended Real Madrid’s flawless start to the league season, giving them two wins from their first two fixtures. They currently sit third in the standings, level on points with Villarreal and Barcelona but trailing on goal difference.
Explaining his decision, Alonso said:
“Everyone is different, and you have to demand respect. In football, decisions are made with the team in mind. That was the case today.”
