Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target passes important audition with flying colours at Anfield
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate produced a commanding display at Anfield during his side’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid.
For the French defender, this was more than just another game, as it was a potential audition in front of a club keen to sign him when his contract expires in 2026.
And since Real Madrid were watching closely, they would have left highly impressed.
Tasked with containing some of football’s most lethal attackers, namely, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham, Konate rose to the occasion with remarkable composure.
Throughout the 90 minutes, he looked calm and assured, using his physicality and reading of the game to nullify Madrid’s relentless forward line.
His aerial dominance, intelligent positioning, and ability to distribute long passes effectively stood out as key features of his performance.
Impressive performance under pressure
What made the night even more impressive for him was how little Real Madrid were able to exploit his weaker areas.
Known to occasionally struggle when tracking back or playing out under pressure, Konate faced minimal issues this time.
His focus and discipline ensured Liverpool remained organised whenever Madrid attempted to break through.
Statistically, his contribution underlined just how solid he was. Konate registered three vital clearances, won both of his aerial duels, made two crucial interceptions, and maintained a respectable 77% passing accuracy from 39 touches.
Although Liverpool remain confident that Konate will commit his future to the club, the uncertainty surrounding his renewal leaves room for speculation.
Should the Frenchman decide to move on, Real Madrid appear to be the best-placed team to sign him in the summer of 2026.
As such, Real Madrid are also tracking Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano, but as reported before, he is likely to renew his contract with the Bavarians instead.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
