Highway to Rodrygo

The muscular overload suffered by Marco Asensio and that separates him from the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic is a golden opportunity for Rodrygo. The far right position is the only open door to enter an Ancelotti eleven where Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Vinicius and Benzema are fixed if they are healthy. In that right-handed band, until now, the Italian coach has distributed the minutes almost equally between Rodrygo and Asensio, although in recent weeks the Spaniard had slightly ahead of the Brazilian.

The equality, so far, is total: 1,044 minutes for Marco (13th on the squad) compared to 1,033′ for Rodrygo (14th). In the first part of the season, yes, the Spaniard has been more decisive: seven goals against two. The assists do fall on the Brazilian’s side (five to one).

In the semi-finals against Barcelona, ​​Asensio was the starter, although he was the first substituted to take his place… Rodrygo. The Mallorcan left a good performance (he brushed the goal in several shots), although the substitution of one for another has become commonplace in Ancelotti’s plans, regardless of how the match goes. The Brazilian also gave in: he gave Valverde the assist for the decisive goal.

Although Hazard also aspires to occupy that demarcation, Logic indicates that it will be Rodrygo who forms a trident with Benzema and Vinicius. A golden opportunity for the Brazilian to claim his place at a time of the season where Asensio is at a high level, Hazard has left green shoots and Bale is speeding up his recovery to reappear.