Xabi Alonso expresses full confidence in Vinicius Junior’s return to form for Real Madrid, despite recent benching. Alonso highlights Vinicius’s crucial role on and off the pitch, emphasizing team unity. This support comes amidst LaLiga’s formal complaint against racial abuse towards Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe. The article previews Real Madrid’s upcoming match against Mallorca, highlighting key players like Vinicius and Johan Mojica, and predicts a Real Madrid victory, noting Alonso’s positive impact on the team’s attacking style. The team is also facing a racial abuse complaint.
Xabi Alonso has voiced his unwavering confidence in Vinicius Junior's ability to rediscover his top form for Real Madrid. Despite being relegated to the bench for the second LaLiga game of the season, Alonso believes the Brazilian winger will play a pivotal role in the team's success this season. The show of support comes as LaLiga files an official complaint regarding racial abuse directed towards Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe during a recent game against Real Oviedo.
Vinicius started Madrid's season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Osasuna but didn't quite make the impact he would have liked. Consequently, he found himself on the bench during their subsequent 3-0 win against Real Oviedo. As Madrid prepares to face Mallorca, all eyes are on whether Alonso will reinstate Vinicius to the starting lineup.
"I'm very happy with Vini," Alonso stated during the pre-match press conference. "Against Oviedo, he demonstrated his ability to make a significant impact coming off the bench. In any successful team, the key is for everyone to be willing to contribute, whether on the pitch or from the sidelines… and he’s going to be crucial for us."
Alonso emphasized the importance of unity and belief within the team, stating, "Truly believing in this is fundamental, and everyone here does. What I want is for him to have a fantastic season. We’re just at the beginning, everyone is important, and considering what he’s already done for Madrid and what we expect him to achieve this season, he’s going to be a vital player."
Last season, Vinicius featured in 52 games across all competitions, netting 21 goals – a slight dip compared to the 24 goals he scored in 39 appearances the previous season. Alonso also highlighted Vinicius's significance within the team's dressing room, especially with Brazil opting to rest him for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia. "Our dressing room comprises 25 first-team players and some from the Castilla team," Alonso explained. "The most crucial aspect is the team spirit, ensuring everyone feels valued and understands they are there to contribute and will have their chance to shine."
Our squad for the match!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) August 29, 2025
@RCD_MallorcaEN pic.twitter.com/7oUX7NiTnE
In related news, LaLiga has officially filed a complaint following the racial abuse directed at Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe during the match against Oviedo. This action underscores the league's commitment to combating racism within football and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all players.
Players to Watch:
Real Madrid – Vinicius Junior: Regardless of whether Vinicius starts or comes on as a substitute, Mallorca will have their hands full dealing with his dynamic presence. The Brazilian has been involved in five goals in nine LaLiga matches against Mallorca, scoring three and assisting two, including two goals and one assist in four home games.
Mallorca – Johan Mojica: For Mallorca to pull off an upset, they will need exceptional service from their wide players. Since the beginning of the 2024-25 season, only two defenders have delivered more crosses into the box in LaLiga than Mojica (152): Jesus Areso (175) and Miguel Gutierrez (153).
Match Prediction – Real Madrid Win: Alonso is now the eighth Real Madrid coach to begin his LaLiga tenure by keeping a clean sheet in his first two matches, following in the footsteps of Baltasar Albeniz, Jose Villalonga, Luis Carniglia, John Toshack, Jose Antonio Camacho, Jose Mourinho, and Rafa Benitez.
Alonso's influence is already evident in Los Blancos' style of play, making them more methodical in their attacking endeavors. Madrid has orchestrated 22 build-up attacks in LaLiga this season, the most of any Spanish top-flight team, surpassed only by Paris Saint-Germain in Europe’s top five leagues (23).
Madrid has won their last five home games in LaLiga since Carlo Ancelotti's final campaign. They previously won seven straight between February and May 2024. They are strong favorites to repeat the trick on Saturday.
Opta Win Probability:
- Real Madrid – 75.3%
- Mallorca – 9.7%
- Draw – 15%