Benched Vinícius Jr. responds with goal, assist as Real Madrid top Oviedo

Vinícius Júnior responded to being benched by coach Xabi Alonso by scoring a late goal — after earlier providing an assist for Kylian Mbappé — in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win at Real Oviedo on Sunday.

Substitute Vinícius was introduced in the 63rd minute, replacing Rodrygo, with Madrid already leading 1-0 after Mbappé’s first-half strike.

The Brazil international then cleverly set up Mbappé for his second goal of the night at the Carlos Tartiere stadium, before converting Madrid’s third himself in added time.

Vinicius reacted angrily to his assist — appearing to shout at referee Ricardo de Burgos before teammate Mbappé covered his mouth with his hand — and later celebrated his 93rd-minute goal by facing off with the Oviedo fans.

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Ballon d’Or runner-up Vinicius had been left out of the starting eleven having failed to impress in Madrid’s opening LaLiga game of the season against Osasuna.

“Vini did well when he came on, he was decisive in those two goals,” Alonso said in his post-match news conference. “We’re happy with those players who started and those who came off the bench. There’ll be a lot of games for everyone.”

ESPN has reported that talks over a new contract for Vinicius are currently stalled — with his current deal up in June 2027 — and that Alonso considered dropping Vinicius for Madrid’s Club World Cup semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain this summer, before a change of plans.

“In football you take decisions thinking about the team, and today it was like that,” Alonso said on Sunday. “Changes from game to game depend on what we need in terms of our play, the effort and the opponent. We want people to feel important and be prepared to start, or come off the bench, or be ready for the next game.

“Sometimes it’s starting and being important, sometimes it’s having a few minutes and being important, and Vinicius was today. That will be the story all year.”

For the Oviedo game, Vinicius was replaced in the line-up by Rodrygo, who has been frequently linked with a move away from Madrid this summer.

ESPN has reported that Rodrygo has told Alonso he wishes to be picked on the left-wing from now on.

“[Rodrygo] had a good game,” Alonso said. “In the first half he linked up well with Alvaro [Carreras], Arda [Güler], Kylian. He had some shots. Oviedo sat deep and it was hard to find space. But I liked him. We need everyone.”

Alonso also praised captain Dani Carvajal, who came into the team ahead of new arrival Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as Franco Mastantuono, 18, who made his first start for the club, ten days after being presented as a Madrid player.

“Mastantuono had a very good game,” Alonso said. “In not much time he’s connected with the group and his teammates, he looks integrated in our play. He’ll give us a lot in the short, medium and long term.”

Madrid are looking to bounce back this season under coach Alonso — after failing to land a major trophy in 2024-25 under predecessor Carlo Ancelotti – and now have six points from their first two league games.

“We had a good rhythm in the first half, we were dominant,” Alonso said. “Our rhythm was very good… In the second half, we dropped off a bit, Oviedo stepped up. But we won the ball in defence, and the last two goals gave us some calm. It was a very complete game, with a great attitude from the team.”