The Real Champs
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Real Madrid: Top 5 moments from 4-2 win vs. Granada

By Kevin Parvizi

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 05: Eden Hazard (C) of Real Madrid vies for the ball against German Sanchez (L) and Victor Diaz (R) of Granada during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF vs Granada FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 05, 2019. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 05: Eden Hazard (C) of Real Madrid vies for the ball against German Sanchez (L) and Victor Diaz (R) of Granada during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF vs Granada FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 05, 2019. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid CM Fede Valverde
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 5: Fede Valverde of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 5, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

4. Fede Valverde does it all

Zinedine Zidane may have found a new favorite in the Real Madrid lineup, as he was full of praise for young center midfielder Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan was on the pitch at one point for each of Real’s three straight clean sheets in La Liga, and while Los Blancos couldn’t hold their clean sheet in this one, Valverde had his best game yet.

His three ball recoveries led to the first three goals for Real, which says a lot about his importance in starting counterattacks for Real. Zidane’s side looked far more dangerous in transition in this game, and it seems like Valverde’s relentless running and positional awareness played a key role in this improvement.

Defensively, Valverde was solid again, and he seems to work exceptionally well with Casemiro, who was as active as ever in cutting out danger and intercepting passes meant for the opposition’s forwards.

Valverde seems like a must-start going forward, and he’s likely replaced Lucas Vazquez as Zidane’s favorite hard-working player. Consider this a breakout performance from Valverde, who received no shortage of adulation from supporters in the stands at the Bernabeu and fans tweeting their thoughts online.

This massive display could be the start of something special for both Valverde and Real in the 2019-2020 campaign.

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