Rest is a weapon

It was difficult for Real Madrid, but he carried out the game against Osasuna in Valdebebas and Zidane did it, in addition, fulfilling his plan to a large extent. The result did not begin to incline until minute 76, but the French coach did not give up in his initial effort to give rest to two of the three basic figures of the Madrid midfield: Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Both started the game on the bench and ended it there, without even warming up.

Zidane's play did not come out entirely for medical reasons: Varane retired at half-time due to muscle discomfort, which forced the entry into the second half of Nacho. The original plan was probably aimed at that on Wednesday, in the Champions League semi-final return against Chelsea, both would play in addition to Militao: Nacho as a right back, in the absence of Carvajal and the little running of Odriozola (in which Zidane trusts the right thing, although in this final stretch of the League he is giving him opportunities), and Varane together with Militao as centrals.

However, the sure loss of the Frenchman will make essential the contest of a Ramos without competition rhythm yet or of Valverde as a right back. In any equation, Nacho is fundamental and Zidane wanted to save him these 90 minutes so that he would arrive in London with fresh legs; He couldn't do it completely, but he only had to line it up for 45 minutes, a lesser evil at this point in the course.

Barcelona's defeat against Granada has adjusted the classification in the upper part in such a way that Zidane changed his plans for the duel against Osasuna: from a rotation that was perceived as massive, he went to a smaller one, with rest for the two mentioned midfielders and for Nacho, but with Vinicius, Asensio, Hazard and Benzema in the attack. The white opportunities in the domestic tournament are practically intact and Zidane wanted to take advantage of the fact that the train once again passed through the Valdebebas station to get on it with the goals of Militao and Casemiro.

The rested Modric and Kroos will be joined in London, if all goes as it should, three other fundamental players to try the white comeback at Stamford Bridge, after the 1-1 in the first leg: Ramos, Mendy and Valverde. The captain has done two training sessions with the group, but Zidane was cautious with him and reserved him to avoid relapses; It was not clear that he was going to start in London, but the absence of Varane triggers his chances of playing in the eleven against Chelsea, either in a line of four or commanding one of three centers and two lanes.

Mendy is the great unknown: it was expected that this week he would have started working with the group, but he has hardly done individual work alone on the pitch. The hope is that he was able to join with the rest of his teammates on Monday to do two full sessions. and Zidane can trust his possibilities as a left back.

And finally, Valverde, who is still waiting for the go-ahead to be able to meet with his teammates. The Uruguayan gave a first negative in the PCR test after being infected with COVID-19, but he was still waiting to end his quarantine and to completely eliminate the viral load to avoid risks. He has passed the disease with very weak symptoms and it is to be expected that he will be able to work without problems from the beginning, although in the case of a COVID case it remains to be seen how he responds to the efforts at first. If he manages to arrive, he will do so without a load of matches and will give Zidane endless tactical possibilities.: he can play as an interior, his natural position; as a right winger to take advantage of his arrival; and as a winger, something he already did at Anfield.

Casemiro and Benzema take the goal

Those five players will be able, Zidane hopes, to form in Madrid's eleven against Chelsea with full lungs and with legs without wear.. They are not the only ones: Hazard points to the starting eleven after having already been against Osasuna, in a duel in which he left drops of his quality and in which it was seen that, beyond the point of form that he must still reach, physically already it is enough to face encounters of a certain intensity. Zidane is also confident that playing against Chelsea, his former team, will be an extra motivation for the Belgian, who is still looking for a memorable night in white.

With regard to fatigue, two names should concern Zidane especially: Casemiro and Benzema. Against Osasuna, both were starters and are among the four players most used by Zidane this season (The Brazilian is 2nd, the French 4th). But, luckily for the Marseille coach, both showed their integrity against the Navarrese team and in fact between the two they built it 2-0: run and assist from Benzema, shot (with some fortune) from Casemiro. They are, in fact, the two top white scorers this season: the French has 28 goals and the Brazilian, seven. Those goals are needed by Madrid in London to break what is probably the best defense in Europe and, thus, get a ticket to the final in Istanbul.