Asensio enters the equation

The ends are the most volatile legs of Zidane's eleven. By occupants and by their own presence in the drawing of the French coach, which this campaign has opted for variants in some games. But in the Classical, the first important game of the season, Zizou has put the cards on the table: Asensio enters his plans.

The presence of the Spaniard was one of the outstanding presences in the eleven that the Real Madrid coach chose for the Classic. The last two defeats invited to strengthen the midfield with Kroos, Modric and Valverde accompanying Casemiro, but Zidane trusted the formula that has given him so many successes and opted for the Balearic in a position that, against Barcelona, ​​had an added responsibility: to support Nacho (and eventually Lucas Vázquez after the injury of the 6) to keep Jordi Alba at bay in his internships. A defensive work in which, without reaching brilliance, he voluntarily involved himself.

Zidane has a lot of confidence in the Balearic. The serious injury he suffered last season prevented the Balearic Islands from enjoying a significant volume of minutes in one of the most competitive positions (and predestined for Bale), but which no one took over. What Asensio has become the owner of is eleven that the Welshman has set free. Appreciation is mutual between coach and player. “We understand each other very well, almost just by looking at each other. He told me to score a goal,” Asensio revealed when talking about what a smiling Zidane told him before entering the game against Valencia after confinement. It took half a minute to satisfy his coach's wish. He ended up contributing two more goals to Liga 34.

Asensio, 24, He is called to be a fixture in Madrid's attacking trident with Hazard and Benzema. An offensive line of which Real Madrid has been deprived by the injury of the Balearic and the recurrent ones of the Belgian. The three have only coincided on the field for 9 minutes in the aforementioned duel against Valencia which marked the return of Marco.

The prudence that Zidane has shown when it comes to reintroducing injured players to the team meant that Asensio only played 362 minutes in the 12 games last season after confinement. In 7 games that go this season he has almost equaled them already. Marco has played 318 ', the 11th player in the squad. He has played the last 5 games, 3 of them as a starter. Asensio is once again the protagonist.