5 Key Takeaways from Real 2-0 Betis: Vinicius turns his luck around with a new hairstyle; Mbappé tackles the same challenge as Ronaldo.
Mbappe solves the same problem as Ronaldo
In October 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo was visibly nervous and frustrated on the pitch after only scoring two goals in his first two games of his second season at Real Madrid. Mbappe appeared to be in a similar state of anxiety after a three-game goal drought in La Liga in 2024/25, until a backheel from Valverde found Kylian, who could not miss the chance .
Mbappe relieves pressure.
In the moments before, Mbappe looked agitated, over-excited and a little anxious when things didn’t go his way, just like his idol in the past. But the final goal came, and it was the best therapy to soothe those worries.
Star Religion
Carvajal wears a long-sleeved shirt to play Betis.
Players often have their own habits, preferences and beliefs. Last season, Bellingham wore a body armor after a shoulder injury and didn’t take it off until recently, when he started scoring goals like never before. Now, Carvajal, despite the near-30-degree temperatures at the start of the game, wears long sleeves, as if he were playing a December Champions League match in Moscow.
Vinicius changed his fortune thanks to his hairstyle
There’s been a bit of a stir about Vinicius’ start to La Liga 2024/25, with the added element of his new hairstyle seeing him get more TV shots and angles than football action.
Vinicius cuts off his hair extensions.
Against Betis, the Brazilian returned to a more classic hairstyle and with it his form returned to his true potential, which was impressive, with only external factors able to distract him. Obviously, the hairstyle is not to blame, but Real Madrid need this version of Vinicius, not the easily distracted one of the past.
Don’t let Carvalho fool you
Carvalho created confusion on the pitch.
With his presence and calm movements, William Carvalho looks like he moves at a pace that would be incompatible with a professional player in 2024. However, don’t judge a book by its cover, as Carvalho’s mind processes things on the pitch at a faster-than-average rate. It’s refreshing to see William think and play without looking like he just stepped out of the gym.
Ancelotti continues to experiment
Ceballos was chosen over Brahim or Guler.
The Italian coach is continuing to experiment with his midfield. This time, he has chosen Ceballos as the left-sided midfielder in a 4-3-3, leaving sharper players like Arda Guler and Brahim out. It feels like Real Madrid are performing better than they have in the last three games, but still far from the level expected. However, Carletto’s changes have had an immediate impact.