Real Madrid News
Stat attack: Brazilian duo Vinicius and Rodrygo leading Real Madrid’s title defence
Real Madrid are off to a dream start to the new season. They have registered five back-to-back wins in La Liga, which puts them at the top of the league table with 15 points on the board, two ahead of arch-rivals Barcelona.
Two protagonists of their successful start to the season have been Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes. The Brazilian duo has performed spectacularly, helping Real Madrid remain on par with Barça.
Rodrygo and Vinicius have combined for a total of six goals, with the latter being the joint top-goalscorer for the club this season. But here at Madrid Universal, we will dig a little deeper into the overall statistics of these two players and gain a perspective of their contributions in the final third in these early parts of the campaign.
Rodrygo, for one, is leading the league in terms of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, with an astonishing tally of 8.02. Vinicius is not far behind, having averaged more than five shot-creating actions per 90 so far this season.
Their collective shot-creating actions tally is 13.20 is higher than the collective total of Cadiz and Getafe. Even Real Sociedad’s tally of 13.40 SCA90 is narrowly higher than the two.
Meanwhile, Vinicius is third only to Alex Berenguer and teammate Benzema, in terms of shots attempted in the league so far. Vinicius also averages 1.60 shots on target per 90 while Rodrygo has a higher tally of 1.78. Both of them are in the top ten in the league, in the corresponding metric.
Another metric that portrays the sheer dominance the two have had in the league so far is the dribbling and possession data that suggests Vinicius is the most successful dribbler in the league, with 15 completed dribbles. He has also registered 253 carries, which is the fourth highest in the league.
Rodrygo may not lead the league in this regard, but his tally of 1.78 completed dribbles per game is considerably higher than the league average.
However, apart from scoring goals, creating chances or making life difficult for the opposition, these two have also worked hard defensively for their team. Both of them, after all, average more than 17 pressure per 90, which is considered quite healthy for explosive wingers such as these two.
These statistics are coupled with an excellent conversion rate and a healthy understanding with their teammates, making Vinicius and Rodrygo the beating heart of the Real Madrid attack that has shown a lot of promise in these early parts of the campaign.
Stat courtesy: FBRef
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
