THE PALETTE IN GJONI – Real Madrid have collected 3 precious points in the title race and are putting pressure on FC Barcelona before their meeting this evening against Valencia.
Real Madrid continues its march forward in La Liga by winning on the pitch of the red lantern of La Liga. Ancelotti’s men put in a serious performance but needed some high-class action to break the deadlock and open the score.
Said action is important in that, like against Las Palmas, it took a sequence of perfect movements to be able to make it happen. First, Rodrygo’s run drew a Valladolid player with him and opened up Federico Valverde’s passing line to Mbappé.
The one-two between the Frenchman and Jude Bellingham was perfectly executed and the finish of the Bondy prodigy was just as much. The latter, in addition to his double, showed a lot of personality and was excellent on the attacking front.
However, his goal in the 30th minute should make Real Madrid aware of the need to pick up the pace in the last 30 meters against low blocks.
Furthermore, Rodrygo’s ’empty’ run is instructive that constant movement is another ingredient to destabilize a team that concedes little space.
Especially since Real Madrid is sorely lacking in creativity, and Jude Bellingham, due to his positioning close to Mbappé, is no longer able to provide any.
Raúl Asencio was the author of a convincing debut at right-back with Real Madrid (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Raúl Asencio is the new Nacho of Real Madrid
During this meeting, Carlo Ancelotti established Raúl Asencio as right back. While the canterano had been used for a few minutes in this position, this was his first tenure in the latter position. And it is clear that he has demonstrated that he is perfectly capable of evolving in this position.
-Even if he is not able to contribute much offensively, the young Spaniard offers guarantees from a defensive point of view and as when he plays in central defense, he is very comfortable on the restart.
This versatility should probably allow him to find a place in the Real Madrid squad in the years to come. Like Nacho before him, Raúl Asencio seized his chance in his first match with Real Madrid.
He did not complain about not having been established after his convincing performances, he responded as soon as he returned as a starter and wonderfully assumes the responsibilities given to him in a position which is not usually the his.
Raúl Asencio therefore ticks all the boxes to become the first canterano to register permanently in the first team since Lucas Vázquez.
The latter, a trained winger, is not all-risk insurance defensively during high-intensity encounters. Carlo Ancelotti therefore has another alternative to that of Federico Valverde in this position.
This will allow him to keep the Uruguayan in midfield while having a player who brings serenity on the right flank of the defense.
John Haskaj
