Real Madrid won a golden victory in Bergamo against Atalanta in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 (0-1) with another scoring foray from a player not originally intended for it: Ferland Mendy, who unraveled the duel for the whites with a right hand from the front that surprised Zidane himself: “It was a rehearsed play, but not for him to finish it off. .. “.
Without Benzema, injured and with whom Zizou did not want to take any risk thinking about what is coming, the Madrid coach only had the option of Mariano for the position of center forward, in addition to other possibilities totally out of orthodoxy, such as aligning the Castillista Hugo Duro in all eighths of Champions, or an invention in drawing. Zidane's little predilection for Mariano was again evident with his decision: he went to the bench and his position went to Asensio, improvised 'false nine', with Vinicius swarming around him. But the invention did not finish coming out and the Balearic left at 76 minutes after another discreet game.
It was not, in any case, the first time that Asensio worked in the position. Zidane already tried it there in the past and also Lopetegui in the Spanish National Team, especially in a decisive match against Italy at the Bernabéu (3-0) in which he did not score, but left feelings that the experiment could bear fruit. Before Atalanta, Asensio finished twice, but with hardly any danger and was very far from the level that Madrid required of him, without Benzema as light to guide the offensive white scheme.
Asensio, during Atalanta-Real Madrid.
AFP
In fact, the good performances that Asensio left weeks ago (against Athletic in the Super Cup, or his goal against Levante in Valdebebas) have evaporated and the Majorcan is becoming more and more invisible. He has not gotten on the bandwagon of the white team, which accumulates five consecutive victories in which Asensio has not had specific weight: zero goals, zero assists, two shots on goal, five shots in total and just eight dribbles completed in those five games for the former Mallorca player.
Before Atalanta he scored two shots between sticks; in the four previous meetings, none. It cannot be blamed for lack of continuity, since the multiple injuries suffered by Madrid have made it indisputable: He has seven titles in a row, although he has only completed 90 minutes in a duel of those seven. And his statistics fail to take off: two goals and two assists in almost 1,800 minutes, a short baggage for a footballer in whom the club maintains its faith, but who cannot reach the cruising speed that Zidane needs from him.
Zidane keeps faith in Asensio
All in all, the French coach does not doubt his confidence in Asensio, aware that in the absence of inspiration he brings confidence to a team that has passed due to important moments of weakness this season: his average of good passes is 86%, both in the whole field of play and only in the rival field; although his lack of faith in his overflow has caused him to lose almost nine balls per game, too many.
But Asensio knows that he has it right to regain his best level; for opportunities it will not be, Zidane has made it clear that his ideal trident this season is the one formed by the Balearic, Benzema and Hazard, giving the Majorcan the right wing, their favorite position. Next week, with two fundamental games in the fight for LaLiga for Madrid (Real Sociedad and Atlético), they appear as opportunities for Asensio to turn his situation around.