The Real Champs
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Three Key Questions ahead of the UCL Madrid Derby Second Leg

By Alex McVey

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 02: General view inside the stadium prior the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 02: General view inside the stadium prior the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images) /
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Who will replace Dani Carvajal?

MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 02: An injured Daniel Carvajal of Real Madrid applauds during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 02: An injured Daniel Carvajal of Real Madrid applauds during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) /

Dani Carvajal was enjoying one of his best seasons at Madrid, and some were beginning to put him in the conversations for best right-back in the world.

Unfortunately, his season looks like it has come to an abrupt end as he came off with an injury in the first half of the first leg against Atletico Madrid. Carvajal is likely to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

One of the big questions heading into the second leg Madrid derby is who will deputize for Carvajal at the right-back position. Although Nacho is perhaps best-known for being a center-back, Nacho was the only defender on the bench when Carvajal went down, so he slotted in and put in a tidy shift. This weekend against Granada, however, Danilo slotted in, picking up an assist.

While Nacho has played full-back for Madrid previously this season, it was usually on the left. That being said, the right-back position may actually be a more inherent fit to Nacho’s abilities, as he is naturally right-footed.

The other option is Danilo. While Danilo has been called on to play both sides of the flanks for Madrid, he is naturally a right-back, and makes the most intuitive sense to replace Carvajal.

The problem with Danilo is that he has put in some sub-par performances for Real Madrid this season. This was perhaps most notable as he blundered his way to an own goal per match in two consecutive matches, helping knock Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey.

While Danilo has been putting in some better shifts with Madrid in recent weeks, there are still questions surrounding his ability to perform in big games.

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Nacho, on the other hand, has been mostly a stalwart. A defensive jack-of-all-trades, Nacho seems to be able to plug-in seamlessly wherever he is needed across the back line.

Although he made a few mistakes against Bayern Munich, Nacho has for the most part been one of Madrid’s most reliable defenders this season.

It will be interesting to see who Zidane chooses to replace Dani Carvajal in the Madrid Derby.

Whoever Zidane chooses, they should be able to keep Madrid afloat, as it would take a complete catastrophe to not see Madrid through to the finals.

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