MADRID (AP) — Vinícius Júnior's scoring slump continued in his return to the Real Madrid lineup in the Champions League.
The Brazilian forward had an ineffective performance and couldn't find the net in Madrid's 4-1 win over Leipzig at home on Wednesday, reaching nine straight appearances without a goal for the Spanish club.
“It’s actually a very good thing that he’s sad because it means he really cares about the team and the fans,” teammate Kylian Mbappé said. “He needs to stay calm and be proud of who he is, because a great player always has to be proud of who he is, and regain his confidence, because he has the quality.”
There were some boos at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium when Vinícius made a mistake while trying to make a pass to Jude Bellingham about halfway through the first half. Bellingham immediately applauded, as if asking for the crowd to get behind Vinícius. Parts of the crowd also chanted his name at times.
“Living every moment,” Vinícius posted on Instagram after the match. “Everything passes.”
Madrid teammate Antonio Rüdiger was among those commenting on the post, saying “We love you brother.”
Vinícius was among the first players to be substituted by coach José Mourinho on Wednesday, along with Álvaro Carreras. He appeared frustrated when he learned he was coming off, but didn't react as demonstratively as he had when substituted in the Champions League game against Roma.
“I think Vini had a good game, he played well tactically,” Mourinho told Movistar. “I don't want to say that he's sad, because it's a feeling that only he can explain whether he feels it or not, but his coach is happy.”
In his post-match news conference, Mourinho added: “We can always expect more from him, for him to be decisive individually, but I’m pleased with his performance today. The change was because we have a deep bench, not because I wasn’t happy with how Vinícius played.”
Vinícius was back in the team after serving the first of a four-game ban in the Spanish league for pulling the hair of an opponent and for aggressively confronting the referee to complain.
He later said he's been targeted by the referees in Spain. He will also miss next weekend's “clasico” at league-leader Barcelona.
The 26-year-old Vinícius has scored only two goals for club and country this season, one for Madrid in the team’s second league match in August, and another with Brazil in a friendly against Australia in September.
One of Vinícius' best chances Wednesday was a long-range shot that prompted a difficult save by Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt just before halftime. Vinícius also had a shot stopped by Vandevoordt near the half-hour mark in the first half.
Vinícius was involved in the buildup to Madrid's second goal, scored by Arda Güler in the 52nd.
Bernardo Silva had opened the scoring in the 44th for his first goal since joining Madrid this season. Silva has now scored in nine different Champions League seasons, according to UEFA. His first Champions League goal for Madrid came exactly a year after his most recent goal in the competition, for Manchester City at Villarreal on Oct. 21, 2025.
Mbappé scored Madrid's third goal and Yan Diomande, who replaced Vinícius in the 70th, netted the fourth with a nice volley.
Thibaut Courtois made a couple of key saves in the first half to keep Leipzig scoreless before halftime. The German club scored with substitute Tidiam Gomis in the 85th.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior warms up before the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Leipzig in Madrid, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
ATLANTA (AP) — Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night and take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.
Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon had 15 for the Dream, who host Game 4 on Saturday.
It was the second straight strong game for Reese, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, which the Dream also won for their first victory ever in the finals.
With the game tied at 49 in the third quarter, Atlanta scored eight straight, including four by Reese. Golden State got within 59-55 on Tiffany Hayes’ layup, but could get no closer as Atlanta closed the quarter scoring 12 of the final 14 points.
Atlanta has dominated the third quarter so far in the series, outscoring Golden State 63-35 combined in the three games.
With Atlanta up 17 in the fourth quarter, Jordin Canada overthrew Reese on the break, but she saved the ball by throwing it over her head underneath the basket to Howard, who got fouled.
Golden State could never recover. Gabby Williams scored 15 points and Hayes added 14 for the Valkyries.
This game was originally scheduled to be played on Thursday at the Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream play most of their home games. The league was able to work with the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena to play the next two games of the championship series there so that they could have a much bigger crowd. Gateway only seats 3,500. State Farm Arena can seat more than 17,000 fans.
Wednesday night’s game was sold out as is Game 4 on Saturday, which will also be played at State Farm Arena. The crowd included many music stars, including Ludacris. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said he was going to be at the game. The Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena offered him a private suite for his protection. He refused to sit in it and was removed from the game.
The game got off to a slow start as Atlanta led 9-1 after the first five minutes. Golden State missed its first eight shots before Aminata Gueye scored the first basket for the Valkyries with 4:39 left. They got within 13-10 before Naz Hillmon hit consecutive 3-pointers and then Reese hit one. The Dream led 23-15 after the opening quarter.
The hot 3-point shooting continued in the second quarter as Atlanta built its lead to 37-26 midway through the period. Golden State was able to hang around and only trailed 46-40 at the break as the teams combined to shoot 15-for-31 (48%) from behind the arc. That was more made 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes then in either Game 1 or Game 2.
Reese had 15 points and WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Janelle Salaun had 11 for the Valkyries.
Game 1 and 2 had huge ratings with the opener on NBC averaging 2.1 million, the most ever to watch a first game of the Finals. Game 2, which was broadcast on USA Network, averaged 1.33 million viewers.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) is defended by Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün (13) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Atlanta Dream during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries center Aminata Gueye, left, and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) compete for possession of the ball during the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) reacts after scoring during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) celebrates scoring during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
