Warning signs at the Bernabéu! Vini Jr. breaks his silence on Real Madrid’s finishing
Real Madrid plays Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium on September 19, 2026, seeking to correct low offensive efficiency in the race for the LaLiga lead. The frontline wavers.
Real Madrid maintains the second-best attack in the domestic competition with 17 goals scored across seven matches, trailing Barcelona at the top of the table after the Catalan rival produced 28 strikes in the Spanish championship. Barcelona leads the scoring table with 28 goals in the Spanish championship. In the broader scope of Europe’s top five leagues this season, Real Madrid produced 19 goals, sitting behind the Catalan club’s 33.
The squad led in attack by Kylian Mbappe ranks second in total shots attempted in LaLiga, trailing only Barcelona in overall offensive volume.
The Spanish league records show a conversion gap between the two sides, as Real Madrid registered 92 attempts with 50 on target to score 17 goals. Barcelona converted 28 times from 100 total shots, directing 51 efforts on target.
- Deportivo La Coruña: 23.08% shot conversion rate
- Atletico Madrid: 19.72% shot conversion rate
Real Madrid failed to score only during a 1-0 defeat against Real Betis in league play. The roster scored at least two goals in each of the remaining six league fixtures. Missed opportunities caused the squad to surrender potential victories in the final minutes of its last four outings.
Vinicius Junior acknowledged finishing difficulties in a personal social media post amid a demanding run of form. The Brazilian winger scored one goal across seven official appearances for Real Madrid this season.
Manager Jose Mourinho addressed the team’s inconsistency following a 3-2 victory over Elche. “I like my team to score goals and I want us to score all the time,” said the Real Madrid coach, adding that surrendering control allows opponents to strike out of context. The Portuguese coach expressed concern regarding phases of passivity and decreased intensity following stretches of heavy pressure.
Jose Mourinho returns to manage in the Madrid derby for the first time since departing Real Madrid in 2013. During his previous tenure, Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid in eight out of nine meetings.
Atletico Madrid monitors Julian Alvarez before derby selection
Forward Julian Alvarez trained alongside the Atletico Madrid squad and remains in contention for the upcoming fixture. The Argentine forward suffered a muscle strain against Liverpool in the Champions League. That physical setback kept the attacker out of recent matches against Real Sociedad and Osasuna.
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak discussed the squad’s perspective on his teammate’s rehabilitation during a press conference. “As players and captains, we treat this as a normal situation, Julian is with us and we support him,” Oblak said.
