Vinicius Jr. propels Real Madrid to stay perfect in LaLiga. How long can this go?

MADRID — Real Madrid continued their red-hot start to the season as goals from Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo were enough to see the defending LaLiga champions past Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

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Carlo Ancelotti’s team have won all of their four games this season and sit top of the league table.

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Rapid Reaction

1. Vinicius Jr. adds scoring consistency to his game

For all his dramatic improvement last season, which he ended by scoring the winner in a Champions League final, Vinicius Junior never managed to find the net in three games in a row. In fact, he hadn’t done so as a Real Madrid player — the last time was as a teenager for Flamengo — before this run of goals against Celta Vigo, Espanyol and now Real Betis on successive weekends.

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Saturday’s effort was a special goal, too — exactly the kind of finish that used to appear beyond him. He timed his run onto David Alaba’s pass in behind the defence and coolly lifted the ball over Rui Silva in the Betis goal at precisely the right moment. It wasn’t all perfect from him, mind you — he had a great chance to restore Madrid’s lead just after Betis had levelled, skying it over the bar — but the signs are there that a player once derided for his finishing has now developed a genuine goal threat, week after week.

Last year’s 17 league goals was hugely impressive — only Karim Benzema and Iago Aspas scored more in LaLiga — and if Vinicius can increase that tally this season, that’s worrying news for everyone else.

2. Last year’s good Bernabeu vibes continue

Saturday marked Madrid’s first home game of the season after kicking off 2022-23 with three consecutive away wins to allow work on the Santiago Bernabeu redevelopment to continue at full speed…