Rodrygo & Asensio, a debate more red-hot than ever

The Real Madrid took off last night from Saudi Arabia with the title of Spain Supercup in the bag and with several good news that strengthen the project of Carlo Ancelotti in front of the white ship. The Italian coach came out the winner in his bid to design a malleable team capable of adapting to the rival and the stage, as was confirmed with his counterattacking proposal against Barcelona and with the more controlling version exhibited against Athletic.

Ancelotti, moreover, was forced by circumstances to change his initial plan in both clashes and his team did not suffer. In the Classic the drop of Alaba he left the rearguard diminished and in the final he could not count on Carvajal (covid) ni Marco Asensio (muscle injury), who arrived in Arabia in his best moment of the course. It didn’t matter because the theoretical substitutes gave the callus and the whites interpreted each situation as required in both games. The Madrid he was supportive in the effort, wise to read the proper score and lethal in the areas. Endgame expert, after all.

RODRYGO ON STAGE

To the loss of Asensio in the final, the one from Reggiolo as it was sung: putting Rodrigo andn the eleven. The right-wing position is the only one that does not have a fixed owner in the white team this season and the performance of the Brazilian in Riyadh once again revives the debate about who deserves to be the companion of the undisputed Benzema and Vinicius in Madrid’s attack (Eden Hazard is not there and is not expected).

Rodrygo he was decisive substituting for Asensio in the Clásico with the assistance of Valverde’s final 2-3 and against Athletic he confirmed his good feelings with a performance that Ancelotti praised at a press conference. With vinicius off and less inspired on the left bank, Madrid’s arreones arrived on a right wing that they colonized Rodrygo and Modric with the help of an intelligent Lucas, always punctual to measure his incorporations, supports and unfolding.

The Brazilian was from the start an escape route to avoid the good pressure of the Athletic, receiving open or between the lines depending on what each play demanded and always aware of Modric’s movements, whom he called up with the goal after a good drive inside to pave the way to the title. The relationship of Rodrygo with the goal he is being erratic this season (2 goals) but he once again showed surgical precision to assist.

THE NUMBERS FAN THE DEBATE

The number of minutes and titles of one and the other throughout this exercise make it clear that the competition is going to continue red hot until one of the two makes the final leap or falls behind. Both have been starters in 11 games (6 of 6 in Champions of Rodrygo; 10 of Asensio in the League) and they have only met once in the eleven, in the defeat against Getafe. Asensio He has played 1,045 minutes in 23 games, has scored 7 goals and has provided 1 assist. Rodrygo, for his part, has accumulated only 22 more minutes (1,067), has participated in 24 duels and his service record includes 2 goals and 5 assists (two of them in the Super Cup).

Carlo Ancelotti, always adept at sending messages to his players in the press room, remains uncertain about his preferences and was pleased to have a leg dancing on the right wing of the white attack “Rodrygo, who played a great game with an assist to Modric, it is always very dangerous. He is a very, very good player. Rodrygo has all my trust because he deserves it. The competition with Asensio helps them both and also the team”, said the Italian after lifting the Super Cup. There is debate.

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