Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso insists there is no bad blood between himself and Vinicius Junior after leaving the Brazilian out of his starting lineup for the second time this season.
Madrid host Espanyol on Saturday, with Los Blancos looking to maintain their perfect start to the campaign after setting the early pace in LaLiga.
Alonso’s side got their Champions League campaign up and running with three points in midweek, with two Kylian Mbappe penalties ensuring they recovered from 1-0 down to beat Marseille 2-1.
Vinicius was left on the bench until the 63rd minute of that game, before replacing fellow Brazil international Rodrygo with the score still level at 1-1.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or runner-up was reportedly unhappy about being benched, having also been limited to the role of substitute in a 3-0 win at Real Oviedo last month.
But Alonso said on Friday that Vinicius has a major role to play, telling reporters: “We have only played five games; this is a marathon. We have to give time to everyone.
“Yesterday I did not have time to talk to him, but today I saw him looking positive and with more of a smile.
“I have spoken with him, we have done some individual exercises. Tomorrow, we’ll see.”
“There are many important leaders in this squad. Vinicius is one of them, with Jude [Bellingham], Federico [Valverde], Aurelien [Tchouameni], Dean [Huijsen], Arda [Guler].
“I value everyone very much and I want everyone in the team to feel important. Everyone is in this boat, and we need everyone to row in the same direction.”
@KMbappe
@ViniJr pic.twitter.com/AcKBqNwW1X— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 18, 2025
Mbappe’s midweek brace took him to seven goals in all competitions this season, with only Harry Kane (13), Erling Haaland and Serhou Guirassy (both nine) netting more among players from Europe’s top five leagues.
But Alonso also accepts there will be games where Mbappe must be rested.
“We have a lot of games and I’m sure that there will be a game where he will not be a starter. He will have to accept it naturally,” Alonso said.
“Kylian is very important but there will be days that he may not play from the start. We’ve played only five games, we have to wait to draw conclusions.”
Espanyol should provide Madrid with a test this week, with Manolo Gonzalez’s side taking 10 points from their first four games to sit level with Barcelona, two points adrift of Los Blancos.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Madrid – Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe has scored four goals in four matches in LaLiga this season.
Only in two previous top-flight seasons has Mbappe scored more goals after his first four games of a campaign. He netted five times in 2022-23 and seven in 2023-24, both with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
Espanyol – Kike Garcia
Kike has scored four goals in 14 matches against Madrid, netting against Los Blancos with three different teams – Eibar (two goals), Osasuna (once) and Alaves (once).
No player has scored against Madrid with four different clubs in LaLiga in the 21st century.
MATCH PREDICTION – REAL MADRID WIN
Madrid have won 24 and drawn three of their last 27 home games against Espanyol in LaLiga, winning the last 10 of those.
Those are Madrid’s longest unbeaten and winning runs, respectively, at home to Espanyol in their LaLiga history.
Meanwhile, Espanyol have lost 108 of their 178 matches against Madrid in LaLiga (W37 D33), the highest number of defeats suffered by any team against another in the history of the competition.
This is the 14th time that Madrid have started a LaLiga season with four straight victories. They have won the title in six of the last nine campaigns in which they won their opening four league games (1961-62, 1962-63, 1968-69, 1987-88, 2016-17 and 2023-24).
Espanyol have not lost any of their last five LaLiga games (W4 D1), scoring at least two goals in four of those matches, having lost each of their previous five in the competition.
This is their best start to a LaLiga campaign after four games (10 points, W3 D1) since 1995-96 (12 points, W4), though they are big outsiders at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Madrid – 74.9%
Espanyol – 9.7%
Draw – 15.4%