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Real Madrid recovered from their defeat in the derby against Atlético de Madrid and returned to winning ways in La Liga this Saturday (4). Playing at the Santiago Bernabéu, the merengue team beat Villarreal 3-1 , on an inspired night for Vini Jr , who scored two goals and had an emotional celebration with an “I love you” for the cameras.

Xabi Alonso's team completely dominated the match, imposing their rhythm from the start and turning home advantage into an advantage. Villarreal held out as long as they could, but ultimately succumbed to the Brazilian's talent . Mikautadze pulled one back for the visitors, and Mbappé sealed the victory.

MERENGUE DOMINANCE SINCE THE BEGINNING

Playing at home, Real Madrid demonstrated its technical superiority and controlled the attack throughout the first half . Villarreal, on the other hand, opted for a defensive posture, trying to exploit fast counterattacks.

Even so, the home side had the best chances . Tchouaméni missed a clear header from a Vini Jr. cross, and young Mastantuono also missed two good opportunities. On the other side, Oluwaseyi had Villarreal's best chance, but Courtois made a crucial save.

VINI JR.'S SHOW IN THE SECOND HALF

In the first minute of the second half, Vini Jr. demonstrated why he's one of the key players in Real Madrid's attack. The Brazilian received a pass from Éder Militão on the left, cut inside with his signature move, dribbled past Mouriño, and finished with aplomb . The ball deflected off Comesaña before ending up in the back of the net: 1-0 Real Madrid.

The goal completely destabilized Villarreal. Without a fightback, the visitors watched Real Madrid grow even more. In the 22nd minute, Rafa Marín brought down Vini Jr. in the box. The number 7 himself converted the penalty and extended the lead to 2-0 .

Despite being cornered, Villarreal still managed to pull one back in the 27th minute, with Mikautadze taking a shot from outside the box that beat Courtois. But their hope was short-lived. Four minutes later, Vini Jr. was decisive again: he was brought down by Mouriño, who received a red card , leaving the visiting team with ten men.

MBAPPÉ CLOSES THE ACCOUNT

Real Madrid continued to press. Vini Jr. nearly scored a third in the 33rd minute, but goalkeeper Tenas saved. Two minutes later, Villarreal made a mistake in their clearance, Mbappé exchanged passes with Brahim Díaz, and the shot went into the net , making it 3-1 at the Bernabéu.

With the victory, Real Madrid reaffirms its strength at home and maintains its pursuit of the top of La Liga , while Vini Jr continues to collect decisive performances and strengthen his status as the absolute protagonist of the Merengue team.

Flamengo has already outlined the criteria for negotiating midfielder Allan in the next transfer window. Despite gaining more market share under Filipe Luís, the player remains under surveillance and could leave the club in January 2026. The board, however, has no intention of facilitating his departure.

CONDITIONS FOR NEGOTIATION

The club has established that it will only accept proposals starting at R$34.4 million , an amount that represents 80% of the investment made with Atlético-MG in 2023. Furthermore, any transaction must be made with payment in cash or with bank guarantees considered safe by the board.

The measure aims to avoid financial risks in transactions with long terms or conditional clauses. Flamengo believes Allan still has a market and can generate financial returns , but demands that the negotiation be transparent and immediate.

INTEREST OF JORGE SAMPAOLI

Behind the scenes, coach Jorge Sampaoli, currently at Atlético-MG, has emerged as one of the main players interested in signing Allan again . The Argentine was responsible for requesting the midfielder's signing in 2023, when he was managing Flamengo , and now he welcomes a reunion with Galo for the 2026 season.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE STEERING WHEEL

This season, Allan has played 33 matches, without scoring or providing any assists . Still, he regained his place under Filipe Luís after a start marked by criticism from the fans. Internally, he is seen as a useful, but not indispensable, asset to the squad.

FLAMENGO MARKET AND REINFORCEMENTS

The last transfer window, which closed in September, was a busy one for Flamengo, bringing in players like Saúl Ñíguez, Emerson Royal, and Samuel Lino . The next transfer window will open in January, when Allan can officially be traded.

Until a concrete offer arrives, the midfielder remains part of the Flamengo squad and is expected to be used until the end of the season . His future, however, will depend on the clubs' interest and ability to meet Flamengo's financial demands.

Last Thursday (2), Filipe Luís completed one year in charge of Flamengo. The date coincided with the 0-0 draw against Cruzeiro, in the Brasileirão. Since taking command in October last year, the former full-back received valuable advice from Zico , the greatest idol in the history of the red-black team.

TIPS FROM THE ETERNAL 10

Zico to Filipe Luís when he took over Flamengo: "you can't think like a player"

Quintino's Galinho revealed the content of the conversation he had with the then-rookie coach, emphasizing the importance of shifting perspectives from player to manager: "Filipe, now you have to understand this: you can't think like a player. You have to think like a manager ," the idol began.

You'll discover who your friends are when you have to make difficult decisions. Based on your personality, I know you'll always choose the best. You can't have friendships from the past. That's when you'll see who truly wants to help you ," Zico said.

The idol also praised Filipe Luís's work during his first year as coach: "When he took over Flamengo , we talked a lot. He has a very clear vision of how to play and understands the style the fans like. Sometimes it's not always possible to apply it, but his philosophy is geared towards that . I'm very pleased with what he's been doing. It's natural to make mistakes here and get things right; it's part of the game," Zico told Romário TV.

FILIPE LUÍS' NUMBERS AT FLAMENGO

In his one year in charge, Filipe Luís won three titles: the Copa do Brasil, the Supercopa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Carioca. In total, he led the team in 71 matches, recording 46 wins, 18 draws, and only 7 losses . Flamengo currently leads the Campeonato Brasileiro and has qualified for the Copa Libertadores semifinals, solidifying the coach's strong run.

MENGÃO'S NEXT CHALLENGE

Following Zico's advice, Filipe Luís is looking for another victory this Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) , against Bahia, at Arena Fonte Nova, for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. The match will be broadcast live on Premiere (pay-per-view) for all of Brazil.