VINICIUS Junior scored a sublime hat-trick as Champions League holders Real Madrid came back from two goals down to hammer Borussia Dortmund 5-2 on Tuesday.
After a shock stumble at Lille in their previous European match, Madrid crushed Dortmund, in a repeat of last season’s final, with a superb second half display.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side claimed a record-extending 15th Champions League crown at Wembley and, as in that match, struggled in the first half against the Bundesliga side, who went two goals up through Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens.
However, Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius pulled Madrid level with two goals in two minutes and Lucas Vazquez fired home the third after 83 minutes.
Vinicius produced a brilliant solo goal for Madrid’s fourth and slammed in the fifth as Los Blancos ended Dortmund’s 100 percent start to the competition by producing another comeback to add to a vast collection in Europe.
“We know that when we are at home, with our fans, anything can happen,” Vinicius told Movistar.
“We went in (at half-time) very quiet and just listened to the coach, we said just one thing.
“If we scored the first, we would come back once again, and we made another comeback, thanks to the fans and the whole team who gave everything.”
Madrid coach Ancelotti brought Rodrygo into the attack alongside Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius, reverting to a 4-3-3 formation after a brief experiment with three at the back in the narrow La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
After midfield maestro Toni Kroos’ retirement and while trying to bed Mbappe into the team, Madrid have struggled to find balance and consistency this season.
They were frustrated for the first half an hour of the game by the visitors, unable to create clear cut openings before the game burst open.
Vinicius issued a warning to La Liga leaders Barcelona who visit the Bernabeu on Saturday in La Liga.
“We’ll go for it, in our stadium, with our fans, and we will fight for everything this season like always,” added Vinicius.
