Real Madrid traveled to the Carlos Tartiere Stadium to face Real Oviedo on Sunday for Matchday 2 of the 2025-26 La Liga season after taking all three points in their opener. However, questions quickly arose when one of the team’s biggest stars, Vinicius Junior, was left out of the starting lineup.
Los Blancos opened the season with a narrow victory, Kylian Mbappe scoring the lone goal from the penalty spot in a game that raised doubts about the team’s ability to control the tempo. In response, coach Xabi Alonso made a bold call by keeping Vinicius on the bench.
The main reason for Vinicius Junior’s absence is purely a technical decision by Xabi Alonso. The Spanish manager believes the Brazilian’s performance has dipped in recent months, and today he will give an opportunity to Rodrygo Goes, who had been close to the exit door but will start on the left wing.
Another reason behind the shake-up in the starting XI is load management. Real Madrid had to cut their vacation short due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in June and July, and the staff is balancing workloads at the start of the season.
Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid walks to the substitutes bench during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo and Real Madrid CF at Carlos Tartiere on August 24, 2025 in Oviedo, Spain.
Vinicius has struggled to regain the level that earned him the FIFA The Best award in 2024, following a rocky final season under Carlo Ancelotti and a slow start under Alonso. With Rodrygo, Mbappe, Arda Guler, and Franco Mastantuono in the attacking line, this could serve as a wake-up call for the Brazilian star.
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Another highlight of the lineup is the inclusion of Franco Mastantuono, making his first start as a Real Madrid player. The 18-year-old Argentine has quickly earned the trust of Alonso, who is reportedly impressed by the youngster’s maturity and skill.
In the pre-match press conference, Alonso praised Mastantuono’s integration with the squad despite being less than a month in the club: “I’ve seen him training well, with a very good connection with his teammates. It looks like he’s been here longer than he actually has.”
Alonso also addressed the midfielder’s debut in the opener against Osasuna. “The other day I thought he did well. He came on with good impact and energy. Tomorrow he’ll be in the squad list and, like everyone else, has a chance to play,” he stated, finally making the decision to make him a starter.
