In a Tuesday night of high drama at the Santiago Bernabéu, Vinicius Jr stole the show, inspiring Real Madrid to a sensational 5-2 comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League after their 2-1 win against Celta over the weekend.
The Brazilian winger, soon expected to lift the prestigious Ballon d’Or, delivered a second-half masterclass, scoring a hat-trick and dragging his team back from the brink after going 2-0 down in the first half.
Dortmund stunningly started the game, looking poised to upset Real's 14-match unbeaten run at home in the competition. Donyell Malen opened the scoring, followed by a goal from Jamie Gittens, who became the youngest Englishman to score against Madrid at 20 years and 75 days, breaking Alan Smith’s 2001 record.
By halftime, Real Madrid looked rattled. With Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham unable to connect effectively up front, the Spanish giants couldn't find a rhythm, even with Bellingham hitting the underside of the bar in a desperate effort to claw back the deficit.
The second half, however, belonged to Vinicius Jr.
Real’s resurgence began in the 60th minute when Antonio Rudiger powered home a header from a corner, giving his side a glimmer of hope. Just two minutes later, Vinicius Jr levelled the game with a clinical finish, sparking belief throughout the stadium.
The tide had turned, and Dortmund struggled to regain their earlier control. Julian Brandt had a crucial chance to put the visitors back in front, but Thibaut Courtois made a stunning save with his feet. Real wasted no time capitalising on the momentum, and in less than a minute, captain Lucas Vazquez drilled a shot from a tight angle to make it 3-2 for Madrid.
But Vinicius wasn’t done yet.
With Dortmund reeling, the Brazilian sensation struck again in the dying minutes, scoring two breathtaking goals after explosive solo runs down the left. His second goal, a standout, saw him race from his own half and fire the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, sealing Dortmund’s fate and ensuring the hosts took all three points.
The victory keeps Real Madrid on level terms with Dortmund in their Champions League group, both having won two and lost one. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, led by a sparkling Vinicius Jr, will now turn their focus back to La Liga, but not without the memory of a remarkable comeback that will be talked about for weeks.
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