Real Madrid: Setting expectations for Marco Asensio

Real Madrid recently added attacking midfielder Marco Asensio to their Champions League squad, but it’s important to set realistic expectations for the young playmaker.

Marco Asensio has the talent to help solidify Real Madrid as the best team in Europe. After winning all eight of their January matches, including two games against rivals Atletico Madrid, despite not having a healthy Eden Hazard, La Liga’s new leaders have to feel optimistic about their chances of winning a fourth Champions League title under Zinedine Zidane.

It won’t be an easy feat, of course. PSG and Liverpool look incredible. Bayern and Barcelona can never be counted out. Juventus have Cristiano Ronaldo. And Real’s first opponents in the Champions League, Manchester City, are no easy foes either.

Still, Real just might be the favorites. It’s unclear when Asensio will return from his preseason ACL tear, but as his recovery continues to progress nicely, the optimism that he’ll be available later in the knockout stages of the competition increases. And that means Asensio will likewise be there to bolster Real’s squad depth for the remainder of the grueling La Liga season, as well as the Copa del Rey tournament.

Asensio won’t find it easy to obtain regular playing time, as Real Madrid have no shortage of talented attacking midfield options. Isco and James Rodriguez, for example, aren’t even guaranteed starters despite all they’ve accomplished for Los Blancos over the years.

But make no mistake, Asensio has shown plenty of ability in a White kit, too.

Take his 2017-2018 campaign as an example. Asensio was a breakout star that year, showing real world-class potential as he scored six times and recorded six assists. The young Spain international completed a whopping 90.2% of his passes, per WhoScored.com, in addition to the hefty goal contributions in 1,839 minutes.

Asensio is different from James Rodriguez in many ways, but there’s one thing he shares with the Colombian. He may not dazzle on the ball with skill and isn’t the most athletic player out there, but he knows how to produce. When the occasion arises, Asensio can provide the finishing touch or the decisive final pass, and he’s one of the most accurate passers you’ll find in the attacking midfield.

Therefore, it will be exciting to see how Zidane makes use of him. In tough games where Real Madrid need quality, Asensio can help make the difference. If Real suffer injuries in the attacking midfield, Asensio can step up to fill the void. On some level, that makes him a luxury piece, but if you want to win the Champions League, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey in the same campaign, you need to live a luxurious lifestyle as a club.

It’s important to remember that the 24-year-old is coming off an ACL tear. That’s one of the more serious injuries any athlete can suffer. Yet Asensio’s playing style and rapid recovery mean that Real can still expect quality production from the player after he shakes off the rust from his return.

Asensio is heading into the prime of his career. He won’t be a regular starter for Madrid in 2019-2020 and won’t light up the stat sheet like an Eden Hazard, but Real can realistically expect solid, consistent play and a few key goals and assists from the Spain international. And that little bit extra, especially in crunch time, can make all the difference.