Vinicius faces AEK Athens test as Real Madrid place comes under pressure

Vinicius Junior will be under scrutiny when Real Madrid face AEK Athens in the Champions League on 04 November 2026, with the Brazilian winger returning to a city where he produced one of his finest performances last season. The 26-year-old is currently struggling for form, while the emergence of Ivorian forward Diomande has intensified competition for his place in the starting line-up.

Vinicius last played in Athens on 26 November 2025, when he inspired Real Madrid to a 4-3 victory over Olympiacos. He created two goals for Kylian Mbappe in an outstanding display, including one assist after a superb dribble past defender Panagiotis Retsos.

His circumstances have changed significantly since then. The winger has not reached the level expected of him and must use the meeting with AEK Athens to rediscover his form. The Champions League provides an important opportunity to respond after he missed four La Liga matches through suspension.

Diomande increases competition

The pressure on Vinicius has grown as Diomande has made a strong impression and established himself as a genuine challenger for a regular starting position.

The Ivorian has scored in three of his past four appearances, finding the net against Sevilla, Leipzig and Racing. He also impressed against Barcelona in the clasico despite not scoring.

Jose Mourinho delivered a clear message when asked about Vinicius, saying that any player who wants to retain an undisputed place in the starting side must prove it through his performances and contribution on the pitch.

Statistics highlight Vinicius’ decline

According to a report by Spanish newspaper AS, Vinicius’ drop in output is particularly evident in his dribbling and finishing numbers.

The Brazilian completes one successful dribble every 28 minutes, compared with one every 25 minutes for Mbappe. Diomande, meanwhile, averages one successful dribble every 17 minutes.

Vinicius needed 27 shots to score his only goal, against Real Sociedad in August. Jude Bellingham scored four times from the same number of attempts.

Arda Guler has scored three goals from 25 shots, while Diomande has converted four of his 17 attempts. The figures underline the difference in attacking efficiency between the players.

Despite those statistics, Real Madrid and Mourinho continue to regard Vinicius as one of the team’s key players and are working to help him return to his established level. There is also a belief that the squad can find a way to benefit from both players’ qualities, particularly because Diomande can operate on the right flank.

Vinicius’ main challenge is to reproduce the performance that made him Real Madrid’s greatest threat during his previous visit to Athens. The competition for places within the squad, however, is now more intense than at any point in recent times.