Diomande presses Vinicius: fans already vote for his start

Diomande became the focus of the derby after entering when Real Madrid were already down to ten men and trailing Atlético. MARCA highlights that the Ivorian needed just 36 minutes to make a mark: he took over the left side with more involvement, carried responsibility forward, and was one of Mourinho’s most active players in the second half.

The fan vote swings it

But the momentum isn’t only on the pitch. MARCA.com reports a poll on the starting XI and the figure is telling: 93% of voters back Diomande starting. Specifically, 86% want him in the lineup instead of Vinicius. Another 7% supports Diomande’s starting spot but for other players, while the remaining 7% say he should not start.

The piece links this call from the stands with earlier signs—Diomande had already shown flashes against Elche—and with the confidence he may have gained after an adaptation period.

Numbers that make it awkward

MARCA also runs a statistical comparison from the derby. Even though Vinicius managed 8 of 11 passes (73%), Diomande finished with 9 of 10 (90%). The bigger discomfort comes from attacking output: Vinicius had two shots and 0.06 xG, while the newcomer tested Oblak once and ended up with 0.07 xG. The head-to-head duel numbers also tilt toward Diomande: 4 of 6 completed dribbles versus 1 for Vinicius.

The article adds that Diomande looked sharper off the ball too, winning 9 of 12 aerial/ground duels compared to 3 of 6 for Vinicius. In-match context mattered as well: Vinicius was replaced in the 54th minute, before the hour mark, leaving an uncomfortable question for Mourinho’s next selection.

To frame the competition for the role, the Portuguese coach pointed to the pressure of leaving him out, as quoted by MARCA: “If today Diomande doesn’t start, the first question would have been: ‘Why isn’t Diomande playing?’” After the international break, Real Madrid face Villarreal, and MARCA says the choice—Vinicius or Diomande—will likely come up again then.