The blow of losing Hazard again hurts less in Madrid thinking of Marco Asensio, a painkiller with the football that Zidane likes the most, his greatest support. The absence of the Belgian, who has difficulty reaching the Camp Nou Classic, on October 25, forces the Balearic, already 24 years old, to accelerate the step forward that is expected of him this season.
Asensio's adaptation to Madrid in 2016 was exemplary for its ease, with goals, assists, dribbling and verticality. But the setback of 2018-19, in line with a squad that could not find itself without Cristiano, It diverted him from that path. For this reason, in 2019 he resigned from the European Under-21, which could take away some options to go to the Games if Luis de la Fuente's men qualified, and he focused on showing up with the batteries to the maximum to the preseason. The plan seemed without leaks, but fate had one in the form of injury prepared for him: an unfortunate movement pushed him off the grass and He got him home and in the gym for eight months of recovery plus three of tapering.
So much effort soon found its reward, with a goal against Valencia 29 seconds after reappearing … 330 days later. He was happy, obviously, but also Zidane, who had reserved the right wing for him when he was available. In fact, until the elimination in Manchester he put him in all the days except Espanyol, with a total of 363 minutes in which he scored 3 goals and gave 1 assist.
Asensio, for 4-3-3 and for 4-2-3-1
That one, with the progression that favors the rhythm of matches, It is the Asensio that Zidane and the sports management expect. A footballer who trusts, dares and achieves it, even more so now that Hazard has fallen and he has forgotten the injury that prevented him from playing against Real and Betis, debuting in 2020-21 against Valladolid on Wednesday.
Zizou not only likes Asensio's technical and physical characteristics, but also his reading of the game, which allows him to stand out in almost any scheme. The Frenchman fits perfectly both in a 4-3-3 and in that 4-2-3-1 with which he has flirted in this season opening that serves a bit of preseason. On the right, the lane in which you feel most comfortable To enhance his style, his profile allows combination and running, in static attack and in speed. His refined shot and his precision when centering make him definitive, as his facility for the goal, the pending subject of this Madrid.