Marco Asensio is back. 329 days have passed since a serious injury put him before a challenge that this Thursday he overcame: step on a field of play again in an official match. And the result was unbeatable. The Balearic only needed 29 seconds to score after almost eleven months away due to injury. A footballer with a star.
Premieres are Asensio's specialty at Real Madrid. He debuted with a goal in five competitions: European Super Cup, League, Champions, Cup and Spanish Super Cup. The game against Valencia, although different, was also a first time. It was the return after his serious injury and it was also his first closed-door meeting after the crisis caused by the coronavirus. He did not miss the appointment: he returned drilling the net.
The Balearic also justified the importance that Zidane gives to his return. In a season in which Real Madrid has struggled to find the goal, the French coach sees in Marco a solution to this problem. The data recorded against Valencia prove the coach right. In the first half the white team scored a negative record: It was the first time in which he shot the goal the most times (eight of the nine shots) without adding a goal to his locker. This lack of effectiveness contrasts with the aim of Asensio, who only needed a shot to score.
This scoring ability does not surprise Zidane, who drew on his head a trident consisting of Hazard, Benzema and Asensio. It was his ideal attack before that injury took the Balearic off the pitch. In his two years under Zidane, Marco averaged more than ten goals per season, despite the fact that he was not the undisputed starter. This course, with gallons, Zizou I hoped he would step forward.
That injury truncated everything, but the break due to the coronavirus has allowed Zidane to have a footballer whom he considers essential. It is in the scoring aspect, but also when it comes to creating opportunities for his teammates (he gave Benzema the assistance of the last goal). The coach showed his confidence in him by sending him to warm up when a momentous match for the title was still 0-0. He gave it a 1-0 entry, with everything to solve. Marco did not fail. The '20' target has returned. And Zidane appreciates it …