A New Real Madrid Problem Involving Mbappe and Vinicius… The Solution May Lie Outside the Duo
A Real Madrid defeat against Atletico Madrid was more than just a negative result in the Madrid derby, as the game exposed a tactical detail that has once again reopened an issue surrounding the team since Kylian Mbappe arrived. This time, the focus was not simply on the performances of the two superstars, but on the spaces they occupied on the pitch.
What made the situation even more striking was that this was not merely a visual observation from Real Madrid supporters. A clearer picture emerged through the average-position map, which showed just how close Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were to each other on the left side during the match, making questions about how the two forwards are being used even more pressing.
According to The Real Champs, citing L’Équipe, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were occupying almost exactly the same space against Atletico Madrid, with both players repeatedly moving toward the left side while Real Madrid lacked sufficient presence inside the penalty area.
Mbappe normally drifts toward the left during matches, even though his starting position is more central when he plays as a striker. Against Atletico, however, the issue became much more obvious, with the Frenchman and the Brazilian repeatedly appearing in very similar areas.
According to the report, the average-position map showed only ten Real Madrid players because Mbappe’s circle was almost completely overlapping with Vinicius’ circle, highlighting the problem that emerged during the match.
This positioning made Real Madrid easier for Atletico Madrid to read defensively, particularly because much of their attacking threat was concentrated on the left. Without a striker consistently occupying the central area, Atletico’s defense had an easier time dealing with Real Madrid’s attacks and closing down the spaces around the two stars.
The report therefore raises questions about the lineup choices Real Madrid could have made, particularly if Mbappe was going to continue drifting toward the left. Having another player capable of occupying the striker position or providing a presence on the opposite side could have given Real Madrid a different distribution of attacking spaces.
That is where Endrick and Carlos Espi enter the discussion. The report’s writer argues that using one of them could have provided Real Madrid with a stronger presence inside the penalty area instead of relying on two players who were repeatedly moving into the same spaces.
The issue was not that Mbappe and Vinicius lack quality. Rather, their positioning in the same areas reduced their overall impact during the match. According to the analysis, Atletico were able to take advantage of this defensively, particularly because Real Madrid’s attacking direction became increasingly predictable.
Vinicius was also not at his best during the game, which led the report to question the decision to start him, especially if Mbappe was going to continue operating from the left and another player could have provided a stronger presence inside the box.
Ultimately, the issue is not limited to the Atletico Madrid match. It is a tactical problem Real Madrid may need to address to prevent it from appearing again in future games. The club has two of the biggest names in world football in its attack, but the latest match once again raised the question of how their roles and spaces can be distributed so that one player’s presence does not reduce the other’s influence.
