SCOUTING REPORT: Real Madrid’s Vinicius will give Man City nightmares but frailties to exploit

It was early hours on Sunday when King Felipe VI completed his sprint from one coronation in London to another in Seville.

The Spanish monarch shook hands with the football queens as Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey for the 20th time – thanks to a brace from Rodrygo.

But Carlo Ancelotti’s side had no time for partying.

Los Blancos flew straight back to the capital to speed up some recovery and prepare for Tuesday’s era-defining Champions League semi-final with Manchester City, where they will look for a 15th European Cup crown.

And under, Mail sports delivers a reconnaissance message from a long night in Seville…

Winger Vinicius Junior (center) scored the first of two goals for Rodrygo (right) two minutes later.

And under, Mail sports‘s Lewis Steele delivers a recon report of a heady night in Seville

VINICIUS ABOVE WITH THE BEST

Osasuna had waited 18 years for a cup final – and almost went into financial ruin – but with only two minutes left on the clock, their hearts broke.

Vinicius Junior squared off against his opponent and danced past two defenders before delivering a superb assist to compatriot Rodrygo.

It begs the question: is there a more complete winger in world football than Vinicius? With 22 goals and 21 assists, few have better numbers this season.

Real fans even sang ‘Vinicius Ballon d’Or’ during parties at Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid.

He gave Jon Moncayola a scorching night of darting runs and blistering pace – his stats rank the 22-year-old as the best dribbler in the world.

The Manchester City defenders might have had nightmares on Saturday night if they had tuned into this game.

The pace and skill of Vini Jr. will have given Manchester City defenders nightmares if they had signed up

ETERNAL MIDDLEFIELD HAS WIDE BACKUPS

Luka Modric spent 82 minutes of this match on the substitutes bench until the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner replaced a tired Toni Kroos and received a huge ovation.

It feels like the pair, Kroos now 33 and Modric 37, are forever in Real’s midfield, but their days are slowly numbered.

However, you don’t have to worry. Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde are plenty of replacements, with little Jude Bellingham likely to follow this summer.

The Uruguayan gem Valverde often takes an extremely forward position just behind Karim Benzema, causing trouble at the back when the Frenchman falls short.

With Manchester City remaining notoriously high, Valverde could be an eyesore. But if he doesn’t do the defensive dirty work, City could tear Real apart.

Tchouameni, who scored against England in the World Cup, looked a little leggy towards the end of Saturday’s final and Madridistas suggest he has yet to rediscover his best after his fine tournament for France in Qatar.

Real Madrid’s ‘Eternal’ midfield of Luka Modric (left), 37, and Toni Kroos (right), 33, is getting older, but the club has plenty of young stars in the wings like Aurelien Tchouameni waiting to take over

Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga (right) is a joy to watch, but it’s a shame to play at left back

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (pictured) will know winning the midfield battle will be crucial to his side’s chances of winning the Champions League semi-final against Real first

DEFENSIVE VULNERABILITIES?

Eduardo Camavings is one of those players who make football a joy to watch, with the Frenchman’s balletic moves and silky-smooth passing skills in tight spaces.

But in the left-back position Ancelotti has given him in recent months, Camavinga’s mercurial talents are lost.

He links up well with Vinicius but looks shaky defensively and with Bernardo Silva likely to start on the right wing for City on Tuesday, he could be targeted by Pep Guardiola.

On the other flank, however, there are no worries. Dani Carvajal put on a combative performance as Real won their first Copa del Rey since 2014.

Not many fullbacks have pocketed Jack Grealish this season, but Carvajal is a good bet to break that trend.

In central areas, however, Erling Haaland will be licking his lips with brutal defender Eder Militao suspended. Osasuna exploited Antonio Rüdiger when he came on as a substitute.

The German has started five of the ten Champions League matches this season, but will play in the absence of Militao on Tuesday.

And Kevin De Bruyne will be on a mission of revenge after Rüdiger broke the Belgian’s eye socket in the 2021 Champions League final at Chelsea.

Osasuna exploited centre-back Antonio Rudiger when he came on as a substitute in Sevilla

City star Kevin De Bruyne (centre) will seek revenge on Rüdiger after the German defender broke the Belgian’s eye socket in the 2021 Champions League final while at Chelsea