If Mbappé is out, Real Madrid set to pair Rodrygo with Vini Jr vs Man City

Spanish outlet AS indicates Real Madrid have a simple contingency: if Kylian Mbappé is not cleared, Carlo Ancelotti will lean on a Rodrygo - Vini Jr front two. The staff trust their chemistry in transition and want vertical runs behind Manchester City’s high defensive line. Endrick and academy striker Gonzalo are viewed as impact options off the bench if Madrid need a penalty-box presence late on. It is a pragmatic call that keeps Madrid’s pressing triggers and counter threat intact while avoiding a full structural change to the midfield that has kept them stable in big European nights.

In the build-up to a high-stakes Champions League tie with Manchester City, reports in Spain suggest Real Madrid will revert to a Rodrygo - Vini Jr pairing if Kylian Mbappé faces a late fitness setback. The coaching staff have worked this contingency in recent sessions, keeping the midfield core intact and preparing Endrick and Gonzalo for late-game minutes.

🚨 IF Kylian Mbappé does not make it, the likely option is Rodrygo - Vinicius Jr in attack. @diarioas

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

From a tactical lens, Rodrygo - Vini Jr is the cleanest plug-in if Mbappé sits. You keep speed both sides of the last line, maintain the counter punch, and avoid retooling the midfield connections that matter most against City’s press. I’ve played enough games against sides that squeeze you high to know the first out-ball decides the night. With Vini stretching wide-left and Rodrygo floating between fullback and center-back, Madrid can punch through the first line with one pass from Valverde, Tchouaméni or Kroos.

The risk is penalty-box presence. Mbappé gives you blind-side runs and a ruthless first touch in tight traffic. Without him, Madrid lean more on cut-backs and second-phase shots. That is where Bellingham arrives from deeper spaces and where Endrick is a genuine alternative if Madrid need a finisher to attack the front post.

On rest-defense, using Rodrygo and Vini raises the workload on the midfield triangle. City will pin you with overlaps and half-space rotations. The wide forward who tracks the fullback decides how many emergency sprints your back line must make. Rodrygo has improved there, and Vini’s recovery runs have been sharper year on year.

Bottom line: it is a credible Plan B. You keep transitions dangerous, pressing lanes clear, and you still have a game-changer in Endrick to change the picture on 65 minutes if control slips.

Reaction

The fan split is loud and familiar. Some back the youth push, pointing to Endrick and Gonzalo and asking why raw goalscorers are benched when Madrid need presence in the box. Others trust experience. “Just put this lineup in the bag,” one fan said, calling the Rodrygo - Vini Jr duo the safest way to protect structure.

A few voices throw shade at Rodrygo’s form, with one dramatic claim that the pair have a combined zero goals against City. That is flat-out wrong. Both have scored in this fixture. But the emotion is the point, not the math. There is also a call to copy a World Cup blueprint with a double striker look, which ignores that Madrid’s midfield balance is the real anchor here.

On the optimistic side, some believe this could be Rodrygo’s reset. Big nights define Madrid careers, and he has delivered in Champions League semi moments before. Others insist Endrick deserves 30 minutes minimum, arguing his movement can tilt a back four and force City’s center-backs to defend facing their own goal.

Overall vibe: cautious faith in the duo, strong noise for Endrick, and a demand for brave substitutions if the first 55 minutes stall.

Social reactions

Xabi, voy a ir a por ti.

PSYCHO (@psychormdz)

Xabi Alonso would rather die than play Rodrygo up top

The Goal Report (@TheGoalReport_)

THE MAN THAT DID NOT SCORE IN 32 GAMES MEANWHILE ENDRICK WHO IS JUST SITTING IN THE BENCH WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOINGGGGGGG

ECLIPSE VC (@ECLIPS_VC)

Prediction

If Mbappé is cleared late, he starts and Madrid keep their most direct route to goal. If he is out, expect a 4-3-1-2 shape that morphs into a 4-3-3 in transition, with Vini left, Rodrygo roaming central-right, and Bellingham stepping into the pocket. Early plan will be to attack the channel outside City’s right center-back and sprint into space when City’s fullbacks push.

First 20 minutes are key. If Madrid escape the initial press and land two or three clean counters, City will temper their back line and the game becomes a midfield duel. That is when set pieces and second balls matter, and where Vini’s 1v1s can draw cards and tilt the pitch.

Expect Endrick on by minute 60 if Madrid trail or the game is level with few box touches. He offers front-post runs and a rebound threat City hate defending. Gonzalo is a late wildcard to press from the front and chase long diagonals if game state demands it.

Scoreline scenarios: with Mbappé, Madrid edge it by one. Without him, a draw decided by a late moment or extra time feels likely. Either way, the bench will swing this tie as much as the starters.

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Conclusion

I like the clarity of this contingency. When you lose a star, don’t rip up the map. Keep your best habits and use the bench to change the tempo. Rodrygo and Vini Jr know these nights, they run smart lines, and they understand when to pause and when to punch. It won’t be about pretty patterns, it will be about first contacts, covering the half-spaces, and making City defend running back toward their own goal.

If the medical call rules Mbappé out, Madrid still have enough speed, craft and experience to land the key moments. If he plays, the ceiling rises. Either way, the decisions on minute 60 will tell the story. Bring Endrick when legs get heavy, keep the midfield compact, and trust the wide runs. It’s a sensible plan, and in Europe, sensible often wins.