Real Madrid briefing: Mbappe’s slow start, Vinicius Jr’s penalty and Ceballos latest

Nobody expected Real Madrid to start La Liga 2024-25 like this.

Thursday’s 1-1 away draw against Las Palmas means Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions have five points from their first three matches, and that many only after a 69th-minute Vinicius Junior penalty cancelled out Alberto Moleiro’s early opener.

With his side already four points behind Barcelona (who have won all three games), Madrid’s Italian manager was self-critical in the media room in Gran Canaria. “We have to look for a quick solution,” Ancelotti said. “I have to be clearer about the strategy I put on the pitch to give the players more clarity.”

It was another disappointing performance that shows there is much work to be done — and little time to do it. Madrid’s star individuals will have to step up as a team in Sunday’s home match against Real Betis, because right now they are not shining.

Let’s dive into the talking points.

Waiting for Mbappe

Nobody expected this start from Kylian Mbappe, even less so after his goal on his Real Madrid debut to lift the UEFA Super Cup (a 2-0 victory for the Champions League winners over Europa League counterparts Atalanta on August 14).

But the Frenchman has failed to score in these first three La Liga games. There’s even an argument to call him the most underperforming striker in Europe’s top five domestic leagues. According to Opta, Mbappe has taken the greatest number of shots in those competitions so far this season, with 17, and has the worst difference between his expected goals figure (xG 1.8) and those actually scored.

Ancelotti had tried to take the pressure off him on Wednesday, telling the media it had only been 14 days since his last goal. When Madrid host Betis at the weekend, it will be 18. That is too long for someone for whom goals are their bread and butter.

Against Las Palmas, Mbappe had nine shots, of which two were on target, including one fiercely-driven effort from outside the box in the second half that Jasper Cillessen punched away. You could sense the frustration in that strike.

At the end of the game, Las Palmas’ Moleiro, named player of the match, asked him for his shirt. Mbappe answered that he had already committed it to someone else. He then waved from afar to the Madrid fans, 1,000 miles (1,700km) from home, on his way to the dressing room.

That calmness and friendliness contrasted with the discomfort he had shown during his 90 minutes on the pitch, where he at times appeared particularly disgruntled with Vinicius Junior — at least three times complaining that the Brazilian did not pass to him.

Transfer deadline day live on The Athletic…

Vinicius Jr struggling to take off too

The other big star (with all due respect to the injured Jude Bellingham) of Madrid’s galactico squad is not getting off the ground, either. As with Mbappe, Ancelotti had stressed that Vinicius Jr was not worried despite not having scored yet this term.

The No 7 responded last night with a goal from the penalty spot, but his overall game received criticism from Madrid fans on social media, with several revisiting the subject of interest in him from the Saudi Pro League.

Vinicius Jr struggled to get past former Madrid academy player Marvin Park at right-back, and that meant he left the pitch at half-time very frustrated. Team-mate Lucas Vazquez walked alongside him to the dressing room, first exchanging views and then encouraging him with a hug.

Vinicius Jr scored from the penalty spot at Las Palmas (Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

In the second half, one of the biggest doubts around the club was resolved, one that Ancelotti himself had not wanted to discuss in the run-up to the Super Cup. Who would take the side’s penalties? The answer, now, is Vinicius Jr.

He went to the spot as soon as the referee blew the whistle after Alex Suarez’s handball and he took advantage of the decision to score. In this Madrid team, where every detail is scrutinised to see how the hierarchies will work among so many great players, this point went to the Brazilian.

However, about a quarter of an hour later, with four minutes left on the clock, Vinicius Jr was substituted as Endrick took to the field.

Vinicius Jr has been replaced in all of Madrid’s matches this season, while Mbappe has only been taken off in two.

Ceballos in the cold

Madrid’s big name in the final week of this transfer window has been Dani Ceballos.

On Wednesday, The Athletic reported the 28-year-old midfielder had again asked to leave and that the club were listening to offers, but ruling out a simple loan deal and seeking around €15million (£12.6m; $16.6m), complicating his departure.

Even so, there was speculation on Thursday morning that he had not travelled with the squad to Gran Canaria, as he was the only player not captured by club cameras in a video posted on Madrid’s social media channels.

Ceballos is unhappy with his lack of prominence, which is understandable given yesterday’s events. Even without the retired Toni Kroos and the injured pair of Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, he was not in Ancelotti’s starting line-up.

Ceballos did not come off the bench on Thursday night (Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

What’s more, he did not play a moment in the game. He has only played six minutes in two substitute appearances so far, making him the least-used player in the squad right now (not including substitute goalkeeper Andriy Lunin).

Ceballos sat on the front row of the bench, with Dani Carvajal next to him, until he warmed up in the second half. Ancelotti did not bring him on, but the former Betis man was seen keeping a close eye on the game in the closing minutes, standing up and even returning a ball to get play restarted quickly.

A journalist from Cadena SER radio said Caballos had thrown his substitute’s bib in anger at not playing, which the player denied in a post on X as soon as he reached the dressing room and had his phone.

After the game, Ancelotti seemed to suggest there would be no late transfer for anyone before tonight’s deadline, saying: “The squad is closed.”

(Top photo: Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)