Real Madrid player ratings vs Valencia: Vinicius Jr is balling again! Brazilian superstar looks back to his best as injured Jude Bellingham is barely missed
With their top scorer out with a shoulder injury, Los Blancos leant on their other big names in Saturday's 5-1 thrashing
When it was confirmed on Saturday that Jude Bellingham would miss Real Madrid's clash with Valencia, there was some concern among supporters. As it turned out, they need not have worried.
Vinicius Jr stood up to be counted at Santiago Bernabeu, scoring twice and spearheading a 5-1 thrashing over Madrid's visitors from Mestalla. The Brazil international led the way, but was complemented by star showings from Rodrygo and Dani Carvajal in a resounding win.
Carvajal opened the scoring early, cutting inside his man before striking a fine left-footed volley off the post and into the net. Toni Kroos almost made it two within five minutes, rattling the bar with a free-kick from 25 yards out.
Valencia had a handful of chances, but were twice denied by Andiry Lunin, and they were made to pay for their lack of incision in front of goal as Vinicius provided Madrid's second, using his chest to divert Rodrygo's cross into the net shortly before half-time.
Any notions of a comeback were quickly squashed in the second half, as Vinicius first cut inside a Valencia defender before angling a shot into the near post before Rodrygo won the ball in the final third and slotted home just a minute later.
He added another with less than 10 minutes remaining, before a fine consolation goal from Hugo Duro put a minor blemish on an otherwise complete Madrid showing.
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