Real Madrid secured a crucial 3-0 victory against Manchester City on Wednesday, significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals, largely thanks to Fede Valverde’s hat-trick. However, their lead for the upcoming second leg at the Etihad Stadium could have been even larger.
While Real Madrid spent much of the second half defending against Manchester City’s attacks, they managed to launch a counter-attack. Ten minutes into the second half, Vinicius Junior was fouled in the box by Gianluigi Donnarumma. With several key players absent, the Brazilian winger took on the responsibility of the penalty kick.
Vinicius’ Penalty Record
Vinicius aimed his shot low and to the right, but Donnarumma anticipated it, making the save and preserving Manchester City’s faint hopes in the tie. Fede Valverde later disclosed that Vinicius had offered him the penalty, but he declined. This incident potentially highlighted Vinicius’s inconsistent record from the spot. Reports indicate this was his fourth miss out of 14 attempts for Real Madrid, resulting in a conversion rate of 71.43%. Among regular Real Madrid penalty takers in the 21st century (with a minimum of 10 attempts), this is currently the lowest conversion rate.
Kylian Mbappé Also Has Four Misses
Considering players with at least 10 penalty attempts for Real Madrid over the last 26 years, Vinicius is one of seven such individuals. Sergio Ramos boasts the highest conversion rate at an impressive 95.65%, having missed only one of his 23 attempts. Karim Benzema follows with 86.49% (32 goals from 37 attempts), while Cristiano Ronaldo achieved an 87.78% conversion rate (79 goals from 90 attempts).
Kylian Mbappé, currently Real Madrid’s designated penalty taker when available, has also missed four penalties, but from 23 attempts, resulting in a conversion rate of 82.61%. Luis Figo scored 31 out of 37 penalties (83.78%), while Ruud van Nistelrooy holds the second-lowest conversion rate in this group at 73.33%, having missed four of his 15 attempts.
Upon his return from injury, Mbappé is expected to resume primary penalty-taking duties. As the undeniable star at the Bernabéu, this responsibility naturally falls to him. However, unlike the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid no longer possesses the same level of assuredness from the penalty spot.
