Vinícius Júnior the danger man for Real Madrid | OneFootball

In Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna on Sunday, Vinícius Júnior brought his tally for the season to six, scoring five goals in La Liga and one in the Champions League.

Vinícius gave Madrid the lead in the 42nd minute when his cross-cum-shot flew into the far corner of the net. What was meant to be a cross looking for a Karim Benzema or Rodrygo finish ended up in Sergio Herrera’s net. The shot-stopper was left surprised by the direction of the ball, the bounce and by the time he could react it was in his net.

Vinícius is the only player Carlo Ancelotti has fielded in his starting XI in every game Madrid have played this season. The absence of Thibaut Courtois on Sunday, the only player who has played more minutes than the Brazilian forward, leaves Vinícius out on his own for most starts this season.

With six goals at the start of the current season, he has equalled his tally in La Liga after the first seven games of last season. But in 2021-22 his Champions League goals came on matchday three, when he bagged a brace in Madrid’s 5-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Kyiv.

He is becoming increasingly more decisive for Madrid and could end up exceeding his 17 goals scored last season. He scored the first goal of the game in this season’s fixtures against Celtic, Espanyol, Real Betis and Osasuna.