Three takeaways from Real Madrid’s 1-0 win vs. Rayo Vallecano

The Marco Asensio question

Here are a few interesting stats for you: Marco Asensio has played 12 games on the left wing this season, scoring one goal and assisting two.

He has played one game on the right, with Spain against Croatia, where he scored once and assisted three in his best performances this season and easily amongst his best showings to date.

Since 2015/16, he has played 24 matches on the left wing in league football, however, it is one of his least productive positions with the Spaniard far more productive from attacking midfield and the right wing.

There is still too small a sample size to say what Asensio’s best position is, but there is a large sample size now to say it is not the left wing.

It’s a tough pill for Lucas Vazquez fans to swallow, but Asensio should definitely get more of a run out on the right-hand side particularly against deep sitting sides where Vazquez’s wide play isn’t as effective and Madrid would benefit from a winger who’d be willing to cut in and shoot rather than run for the byline and hit a cross.

Having said all that, Solari has shown so far that he prefers the front three to be structured and to rotate, the exact opposite of former managers Zinedine Zidane and Julen Lopetegui.

Despite his rigid system, Solari needs to give Asensio a go on the right-hand side if he wishes to get the best out of the Spaniard.