Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has voiced strong support for teammate Vinícius Júnior as the Brazilian forward looks to end a prolonged goal drought ahead of the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atlético Madrid.

Xabi Alonso’s side face their city rivals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, with the winners advancing to Sunday’s final against either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao.

Vinícius has not found the net in his last 15 appearances across all competitions, with his most recent goals coming back in October. The 25-year-old has also been the subject of speculation over his future, having yet to agree a contract extension beyond his current deal, which runs until June 2027.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Bellingham acknowledged the pressure Vinícius is facing both on and off the pitch.

“I think Vini is under a huge amount of pressure as a player and as a person,” Bellingham said. “Everything he does on the pitch comes from pure emotion, and sometimes people forget that it’s a human being out there.”

The England international suggested that the scrutiny surrounding Vinícius may be contributing to his recent struggles in front of goal.

“That pressure can create a bit of a mental block at times,” Bellingham added. “But when I play with him, I still see an electric player — someone I can give the ball to who can create something out of nothing. Goals don’t always tell the full story.”

Vinícius, who finished second in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, has at times shown visible frustration during matches, including angry reactions to substitutions and confrontations with officials and opponents.

Bellingham insisted the squad remains fully behind the winger and believes his return to form is only a matter of time.

“When he’s at his best, we’re a much better team. He’s a frightening player,” he said. “It’s our job as teammates to support him in any way we can, and I’m sure he’ll be back to his best — 100%.”

The midfielder also dismissed any suggestion that Vinícius could be a negative influence within the squad.

“I have a great relationship with Vini,” Bellingham explained. “If I ever felt he was hurting the team or our ambitions, I’d tell him directly. But that’s not the case at all. He’s just going through a spell without goals, and with confidence, he’ll come back stronger.”

Bellingham also reiterated the players’ support for head coach Xabi Alonso, who faced mounting pressure late last year following a run of inconsistent results.

“At Real Madrid, things can become exaggerated during bad moments,” he said. “But we’re all behind the coach. Whatever happens next is beyond my control, but our focus is on winning.”

Atlético back Álvarez despite dip in form

Across the divide, Atlético Madrid captain Koke offered similar backing to striker Julián Álvarez, who has also endured a recent drop in scoring form.

The Argentina international has scored just twice in his last 10 matches in all competitions, despite being a key figure for Diego Simeone’s side.

“Big players demand a lot from themselves,” Koke said. “It’s not just Julián — all of us need to step up to reach our objectives.”

Koke pointed to Álvarez’s standout performance in Atlético’s 5-2 win over Real Madrid in September, when the forward scored twice.

“I hope he has the same luck he had in that match,” Koke said. “I’m certain that when we need him most, he’ll be at his best.”

Álvarez joined Atlético from Manchester City in August 2024 for an initial fee of €75 million. The 25-year-old has scored 11 goals in 24 appearances this season, including seven in LaLiga, where Atlético sit fourth, seven points behind second-placed Real Madrid.