One night in Munich: Vinicius "CR7", Bryan's request and Bellingham's (failed) mental game with Kane on the penalty

As his teammates made their way to the field, he lingered in front of the Allianz Arena stands, gazing at the 4,000 Madrid fans who filled the last remaining section. With a sense of pride, he turned around and revealed his name and number on the back of his jersey, “Vini Jr.”, “7”. It was the perfect finishing touch to an extraordinary performance by the striker, one that etched his name into the annals of European football history.

Among the plethora of talented footballers that Brazil has produced and sent to Europe, none can boast of more goals and assists than Vinicius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. Not Ronaldo Nazario, not Ronaldinho, not Kaká, not Neymar, and not even legendary figures like Romario or Rivaldo. Vinicius surpasses them all with his impressive tally of 10 goals and 12 assists.

In the match against Bayern, Vinicius added Munich to the list of cities where he has left an indelible mark in the history of the European Cup. At just 23 years old, he has scored or assisted at prestigious venues like the Etihad, Anfield, and Stamford Bridge. He even netted a goal in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool.

In total, he has scored 2 goals against Bayern, 5 goals and 2 assists against Liverpool, 2 goals and 3 assists against City, 1 goal and 5 assists against Chelsea, and 1 goal and 1 assist against PSG. Not to mention the assists he provided against Ajax and Atalanta and a goal he scored against Leipzig. And what’s remarkable is that all of these contributions came in the playoff stages, demonstrating his ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most.

Last night, he brilliantly converted Kroos’ exceptional pass and bravely stepped up to take the penalty that secured Madrid’s position in the tie. The penalty was dispatched with the same power and precision of Cristiano Ronaldo, the last Real Madrid player to achieve a brace at the Allianz Arena back in April 2017. “Bravo, CR7/Vini7,” Lucas Vázquez posted on social media. And it’s not just his finishing ability that draws praise; Ancelotti commended his intelligent movement off the ball and his composure in front of the opposition goal.

Regarding his partnership with Kroos, Vinicius remarked, “Toni always makes everything very easy and he gave me a goal. We train a lot together, and we understand each other very well. I’m thrilled to have scored two goals tonight. It’s a magical night for us at home.” The young striker believes that avoiding defeat is crucial in this tournament, stating, “That’s why we are here. We want to achieve great things and reach the final.”

Vini could have kept the jersey he wore on such a special night, but he graciously gave it to Bryan Zaragoza, an old acquaintance from LaLiga who now plays for Bayern. Vinicius’ standout performances have been instrumental in Madrid’s undefeated run in the Champions League this season. Ancelotti’s men have played 11 matches so far, winning 7 and drawing 4. Interestingly, all four draws have come consecutively, namely the second leg against Leipzig, both legs against City, and the first leg in Munich. “The result is good,” admitted Ancelotti, “but we could have done better. Our best moments were at the start of the second half, but they managed to score two goals against us… Vinicius showed his best version, but we didn’t. We still have time to improve before the next match on Wednesday.”

Ancelotti revealed that Bellingham experienced cramps in the second half, prompting his substitution. However, he expressed confidence in the midfielder’s ability to recover quickly and perform at his best. Bellingham himself reassured everyone, stating, “I’m fine,” as he passed through the mixed zone.

Interestingly, Bellingham had a brief exchange with his compatriot Harry Kane before taking the penalty that put Madrid ahead 2-1. Kane revealed, “He told me he was going to shoot to the left and that he would inform the goalkeeper. Luckily, I noticed Lunin diving slightly to the right, so I opted to shoot to the left instead.”