Vinicius has a point to prove against Rayo Vallecano after Real Madrid fans turn on him

Vinicius has a point to prove against Rayo Vallecano after Real Madrid fans turn on him Vinicius Jr. heads into Real Madrid’s meeting with Rayo Vallecano with something to prove after finding himself at the centre of an increasingly uncomfortable debate among the club’s supporters. The Brazilian was booed during the Champions League victory over Inter Milan, a reaction that looked harsh on the night given that he produced nine ball recoveries and arguably did more defensively than any of his Real Madrid teammates. But the Bernabeu demands more from Vinicius than defensive work. Vinicius still searching for his spark For what it is worth, the offensive numbers have not helped his case, as Vinicius has played five matches this season, registering two assists and one goal, which came against Real Sociedad.  He has now gone three consecutive games without scoring. Yet the frustration around the Brazilian is less about the statistics than his overall influence. Vinicius might look to redeem himself in front of the Bernabeu crowd. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Vinicius has not looked like the explosive match-winner Madrid fans became accustomed to watching. The direct running and decisive moments that once seemed almost inevitable have been harder to find. This is why the upcoming game against Rayo Vallecano offers him another opportunity to prove that prediction right. Andrei Ratiu awaits another battle Getting back to his best will not be straightforward, particularly with Andrei Ratiu likely to line up against him. The Rayo Vallecano right-back has consistently made life difficult for Vinicius in their previous meetings, turning their individual battles into one of the more intriguing aspects of this fixture. Vinicius has faced Rayo 10 times since arriving in Spain in 2018 and has scored only twice. More tellingly, he has not found the net against them for more than a year. Vinicius has not scored against Rayo for over a year. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) That is a record the Brazilian will want to change. A chance to win back the Bernabeu Meanwhile, there is no need for Vinicius to respond to the criticism with words, as His answer has to come on the pitch. The criticism may feel excessive after his contribution against Inter, but the expectations placed on him are also a reflection of how highly Madrid supporters rate him. They have already seen Vinicius become a player capable of deciding the biggest matches, and they want that version back. The Rayo fixture presents the perfect stage. If Vinicius can finally get beyond Ratiu and rediscover his decisiveness in the final third, the mood around him could change.