Vinicius has shone, ending a 16-match unbeaten streak
When Mbappe was only fit enough to sit on the bench and was finally only brought on in the 76th minute, pressure immediately poured on another Real Madrid star. That is Vinicius Junior.
Before the match, Vinicius entered the final with a 16-match consecutive goalless streak - a rare drought in his career.
The problem is not only zero on the statistics table, the inefficiency also caused him to suffer booing at the Bernabeu.
The performance in the semi-finals in Jeddah also only attracted attention because of the verbal battle on the sidelines with Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.
However, the moment Vinicius received the ball in the second minute of added time of the first half temporarily erased all prejudices. Starting on the left wing, facing Jules Kounde directly, the Brazilian striker suddenly exploded with a premium version.
He shook his body past Kounde, crossed this cunning right-back's waist, entered the penalty area and then launched a dangerous shot to defeat Joan Garcia. The celebration with a rushing shot into the corner flag was like an emotional explosion, relieving all repression.
Vinicius needed that goal and Real Madrid also. Stepping into the second half, he looked like another person - lighter, more confident and ready to "burn" the left flank with speed and technique.
Two times, he was very close to the next goal, although Kounde was still brave enough not to be swept away in one-on-one encounters.
It was not until the end of the second half that the threat from Vinicius gradually decreased, before he left the field to make way for Arda Guler in the final minutes.
In the end, Vinicius's goal could not change the outcome. Real Madrid still lost.
However, if there is a bright spot they can bring back from the final, it is that one of the best players in the world, when in optimal condition, has recreated the image that once put him in the group of Golden Ball candidates.
So, is this a sign of a sustainable revival, or just a moment of brilliance in the midst of a diary?
Real Madrid's safety priority plan has almost succeeded
Real Madrid entered the game with a system full of caution, prioritizing defense over imposing the game. Every time Barcelona held the ball and pushed the squad high, the Royal team often retreated deep into a 5-man defense structure.
Federico Valverde plays right-back, Aurelien Tchouameni pairs with Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio in the center, and Alvaro Carreras guards the left flank.
In terms of the game, Barca therefore has a clear advantage. In the first half alone, they controlled the ball 76%, while Madrid only had 24%. However, Real Madrid's approach is also grounded. They are missing important center-backs such as Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger.
At the same time, in the context of collective decline and instability for many months, choosing to play safely and limit risks is understandable.
Last season, Real Madrid suffered heavy defeats against Barcelona, including a 2-5 defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final.
They cannot allow a similar scenario to happen again, especially when coach Alonso is under pressure. A devastating defeat in the final could have serious consequences for his seat.
In that sense, this can be considered a relative success. Los Blancos avoided a disastrous defeat. The match had 5 goals and was divided equally in a way that helped them still maintain some bonus points in terms of fighting spirit. They competed, they fought, and in the end only lost by a goal difference.
However, that is not the kind of football that people expect from a team led by Alonso, let alone the Real Madrid playing style that can be repeated regularly without facing criticism for being disproportionate to the position of a giant.
However, that option was somewhat effective. Real Madrid still maintained the opportunity until the last minutes, before missing two delicious situations to equalize in injury time. But this is unlikely to be a design for the future.
