Statistics expose how Mbappe ended a near perfect partnership at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Last season, Real Madrid looked solid in attack. Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo were leading from the front, and both were performing when it mattered most.

After Karim Benzema left the club, many wondered how Madrid would cope without their experienced striker. But Carlo Ancelotti found a smart way to make things work.

He placed Vinicius and Rodrygo up front with Jude Bellingham playing just behind them. Ancelotti shifted his usual 4-3-3 formation to a 4-3-1-2 setup, which clicked perfectly thanks to Joselu’s support.

This approach paid off well. Real Madrid ended the season winning three major trophies – the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup.

The attack was fluid, well-balanced, and defensively organised. Most importantly, Rodrygo and Vinicius worked well as a team.

Out of 61 matches last season, they started 28 times together in attack. Madrid won 22 of those games, drew five, and lost just once. That is a win rate of over 84%. The chemistry between them was one of the reasons for Madrid’s success.

But this season, things have changed – and not for the better.

Mbappe’s arrival changed everything

Mbappe’a arrival has complicated things at Real Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

With the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Ancelotti has gone back to a different system. He is using a modified 4-3-3, which becomes a 4-2-1-3 when Real Madrid have possession.

In this setup, Bellingham acts as the playmaker, while Vinicius and Mbappe operate as the wide attackers. On paper, it might look like a dream team, but on the pitch, it is not delivering the same results.

Mbappe has scored 34 goals this season, which is a strong individual number. But football is not only about goals. It is about how the whole team performs together.

With Mbappe and Vinicius both on the pitch, there is hardly any defensive effort from either side. This leaves Real Madrid open when they lose the ball. The balance that Ancelotti had built last season is missing now.

Rodrygo’s numbers have faded

Rdorygo is struggling to score. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Rodrygo, who was once a key part of the attack, has now been pushed aside. He and Vinicius have only started together in three games this season without Mbappe.

These games include a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid, a 1-0 win over Athletic Club, and a 2-3 loss against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.

Across these matches, the team collected just 44.4% of the possible points – a big drop from last season’s 84.5%.

Rodrygo’s form has also dropped badly. He had an amazing January, scoring 7 goals in 8 matches, but since then, he has scored only once in the last 22 games.

That is a huge dip in performance, and it’s clear he has struggled to stay involved in a system that no longer suits him.

Vinicius, too, has not been at his best. His attitude has also raised eyebrows, especially when fans whistled at him for not putting in enough effort.

Last season, he was the only player Ancelotti allowed to skip defensive duties. But with Mbappe now doing the same, the team is feeling the pressure on that side of the game.