Real Madrid have four players in WhoScored’s team of the midseason

Real Madrid currently sit in second place in La Liga at the campaign’s midway point, but after outplaying FC Barcelona in the Clasico, they will be the favorites to win it all once Eden Hazard returns in January or February.

Zinedine Zidane has had a busy 2019-2020 campaign. In addition to winning over the skeptical Real Madrid fan base again, the legendary manager has also been navigating several major injuries. Eden Hazard, for example, is still out after suffering a serious ankle injury in November.

But despite Hazard’s injury, Real have benefited from a handful of incredible individual performances this season. In fact, per WhoScored.com’s grading system, they have more players in the Team of the Midseason than any other club. FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad both have two while Real Madrid have four, and one of Sociedad’s players is Los Blancos’ superstar loanee Martin Odegaard!

The four men on Los Merengues who made the cut? Right back Dani Carvajal, center back Raphael Varane, defensive midfielder Casemiro, and striker Karim Benzema. Again, these are all based solely on WhoScored’s grading system.

But the picks make sense. Carvajal’s had and up-and-down year, but he’s mostly been solid defensively and helps out a ton with the attack. The man has provided some key crosses for Benzema this season, and it’s difficult to pick out a right back on his level in this league.

Varane is a slam dunk, and, yes, he has been better than Sergio Ramos this season. People don’t give Varane his due nearly enough, and he’s right there with the best of them at the the position. H always looks composed defensively and can mark the best forwards out of the game entirely.

There’s a case to be made for Casemiro as the best player in La Liga this season, though Lionel Messi, Odegaard, and Benzema are also up there. Casemiro is undoubtedly the best defensive midfielder in the world and crucial to Real’s performances. He dominated the Clasico and has been a wrecking ball defensively this season. Some of the tackles he makes are unbelievable.

As for Benzema, he joins Casemiro as Real Madrid’s most valuable player. Benzema shows up in the big games, including a brace against PSG in the Champions League and a memorable winning goal at the Sanchez Pizjuan against Sevilla in September. Real simply wouldn’t be in this position without Benzema’s goals, leadership, and creative link-up play. The hard-working No. 9 is the best player in the world at his position, too, and only Messi has more goals than him in La Liga.

These four individual performances from Los Blancos have been key, but don’t be surprised if others like Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, or Fede Valverde join them in the second half of the season. In particular, a healthy Hazard has a chance to change everything in this title race.