Real Madrid’s attack gathers pace as Vinicius absence offers El Clasico boost

Real Madrid will travel to face Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday in the 10th round of La Liga, with the upcoming El Clasico dominating attention for both sides and their managers, Jose Mourinho and Hansi Flick.

The Spanish capital club go into the fixture having scored 12 goals in their past three matches in La Liga and the Champions League. They scored four against Roma, added another four against Leipzig in Europe and then produced the same total against Sevilla.

That return is better than Real Madrid managed across their previous six games, in which they scored 11 goals in total – fewer than two per match.

Nine of the 12 goals from the past three matches, however, came without Brazil forward Vinicius Junior playing a full part. Real Madrid scored three against Roma after he had been substituted, followed that with two against Leipzig and then scored four against Sevilla, a match he missed through suspension.

Vinicius will also be unavailable against Barcelona. That could prove encouraging for Mourinho’s side given the forward’s less convincing form, as well as Real Madrid’s record without him in La Liga over the past three seasons.

They have won 10 of the 11 league matches in that period in which Vinicius has not played, suffering only one defeat.

Diomande provides a different option

Ivorian winger Yan Diomande is enjoying his best spell since joining Real Madrid from Leipzig last summer. Across his past four appearances, he has contributed to six goals, scoring three and creating three.

Five of those six goal contributions came while he was operating on the left wing, the position he is expected to occupy against Barcelona.

Diomande’s main distinction from Vinicius is not his technical ability or pace, but the speed and simplicity of his decision-making. He appears less likely to hesitate between dribbling, passing and shooting.

That quality has been particularly evident in his recent assists. They have not required extraordinary or spectacular passes, but have instead been straightforward balls that matched the flow of the move.

Defensive concerns remain

Real Madrid’s attacking improvement in Vinicius’ absence has not resolved their defensive problems. Whether or not the Brazilian is involved, they have conceded in each of their past three matches.

They allowed five goals during that run: three at Roma and one each against Sevilla and Leipzig. That amounts to a rate approaching two goals per game.

Against a Barcelona side possessing significant attacking strength, Real Madrid’s defensive vulnerability could become decisive in the El Clasico. It threatens to undermine the attacking solutions they have developed in recent weeks.