Definitely, Madrid attends a changing of the guard in the final stretch of the season, which will decide the titles. Four players who had a marginal role at the beginning point to crucial now. Most notable, undoubtedly, Vinicius, whose performance in the Classic has made him a cover footballer.
The Brazilian had a difficult start with ZIdane. The arrival of the Frenchman caught him injured and only played the last three league games, two leaving from the bench. At that time the technician had returned to his faithful, to the heroes of the Kiev final. Hazard's arrival seemed to close the door that Solari had opened in early winter. In fact, this season he did not play a full match until September 14. He has only started in 12 of the 38 games played by Madrid this season, but he played the most important of the last months, against Manchester City and Barcelona, and both with an air of figure. Add four goals, your pending subject, and three assists.
Mendy was a recommendation from Zidane, a footballer to squeeze a Marcelo who had given symptoms of decline the previous year, but the Frenchman had trouble entering. He only played two of the first five Champions games and two of the first eleven of the League. His defensive firmness was getting him afloat, to the point that the team fits half of goals with him than with Marcelo. He has already played more games than the Brazilian (21 to 18) and also more minutes (1,607 to 1,436). His substitution against Barça missed.
A similar future seems to await Mariano, the invisible striker. Throughout the season and until the Classic had played 44 minutes. He lost his dorsal (7) with the arrival of Hazard and ZIdane denied him even the Cup, habitual refuge of the most disadvantaged part of the squad. He had his minute of glory in the Classic and fell into a hobby that looks suspiciously at the coldness of Jovic. The Serbian, with many opportunities (24 games), has not been a solution (two goals).
L also arrivesat the time of Militao, who has played noticeably less than expected, but that will have to supply the loss of Sergio Ramos in Manchester. Regular in the Tite calls (played the last two friendlies of Brazil, against Argentina and Korea), He did not debut in Madrid until September 14. He has only played 12 games and since January 18 he has not done so in the League. Yes he was in the disaster but before the Real. At the moment of truth comes with little filming.