Real Madrid: Top 5 performances from 3-1 win over Sociedad

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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 23: Adnan Januzaj of Real Sociedad battles for possession with Ferland Mendy of Real Madrid during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 23, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /

LB Ferland Mendy

Marcelo has returned to health, but Zinedine Zidane made the right call to start Ferland Mendy against Real Sociedad’s normally excellent front three. While Mikel Oyarzabal and attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard were as good as usual, right winger Portu had pretty much no success against Los Blancos’ defense.

Most of that credit goes to Mendy, who is arguably the world’s best defensive left back right now. Simply put, nobody gets past him. Mendy’s intelligence and positioning are on another level, and sometimes it’s hard to believe that he’s only a 24-year-old playing in his first season at Real Madrid. The man just gets it.

Offensively, Mendy continues to make strides with his first touch and shooting; he even came close to catching Sociedad’s keeper off guard with a weak-footed effort from distance. Mendy’s growth in the attacking third from game to game is visible. His passing and positioning in the final third have always been excellent, but now he’s starting to get more comfortable in these areas, which has aided his technique and decision-making.

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The best player on Real in the first half, others started to step up in the second and take that MOTM honor from him. Even so, Mendy was exceptional in this game and deserves high praise for the quality he’s shown in his first few months with Los Blancos.

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