Real Madrid: Mariano Diaz has earned the right to compete with Luka Jovic for minutes
Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz made his La Liga 2019-2020 debut as a stoppage time substitute in El Clasico…and he scored.
Luka Jovic has been tabbed as the successor to Karim Benzema as Real Madrid’s No. 9, and it is important to preach patience with the young striker, who is fresh off an incredible campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt. However, Mariano Diaz recently staked his claim for more playing time, complicating matters.
In the first half of the 2019-2020 season, Karim Benzema was one of the best players in La Liga and neck-and-neck with the likes of Robert Lewandowski as the best striker in the world. However, Benzema’s play has fallen off lately, as, per Sofascore.com, he’s now missed as many big chances as he’s scored goals (13) in La Liga.
Benzema could use some rest, and the strikers behind him could use more opportunities. It was impossible to bench Benzema when he was in top form, leading the scoring charts at one point. But now, it may be prudent to manage the veteran forward’s minutes, especially if it means giving more chances to Jovic and Mariano.
More from The Real Champs
- The Xabi Factor: What Alonso could bring to Real Madrid as manager
- Manchester City hold talks over Real Madrid target
- Real Madrid player confirms he is playing with a fracture
- Real Madrid superstar rejected Premier League clubs confirmed
- Spaniard ready to join Real Madrid instead of Liverpool
Jovic should be the one to benefit the most, and he’s shown his world-class potential at times this season. He scored the fourth goal a few weeks ago against Osasuna with an emphatic, technically-prolific finish. And this was weeks after supplying the winning assist to Casemiro against Sevilla, via a picture-perfect backheel.
Yet Jovic is now being pushed by Mariano. An afterthought for much of the season, Mariano was assumed to be headed for a loan deal this winter after resisting a loan deal during the summer transfer window.
Now in his second stint with Real, Mariano has shown his talent multiple times, including during a 20-goal season with Lyon. Clubs around Europe had interest in Mariano, but the 26-year-old striker resisted the interest in order to prove himself with Los Blancos.
Mariano puts his heart and soul in to every minute he plays, even though opportunities have been frustratingly sparse. Yet he’s never complained or put a foot wrong. His jersey is often dirty in just minutes due to the work he puts in.
And in El Clasico, his work was rewarded. Mariano entered the game in stoppage time, to the amusement of Real Madrid fans who had seen their team hold out a 1-0 lead created by Vinicius Junior. In literal seconds after his inclusion to the match, Mariano scored, completely dusting the FC Barcelona defense with his acceleration, making no mistake with a tricky finis has he fell.
It was a fairytale moment for a hard-working, talented player who had been cast out from the side due to the depth at the forward positions. Mariano’s self-belief and work ethic were rewarded, as he seized a glimmer of an opportunity, carrying the ball into the heart of Barca’s box from a throw-in before sealing the game at 2-0.
Real Madrid's biggest heroes after El Clasico. dark. Next
If that magical moment in El Clasico – of all games – doesn’t lead to more minutes, then what will? Mariano is a few years older than Jovic and doesn’t carry the same value to Los Blancos, but for the remainder of the season, he could be a real asset. And it’s possible he could play a role in the squad beyond 2019-2020. After all, 26 isn’t old by any means for a striker with little wear-and-tear. He is now clearly one to watch.