It was a dream return to action for Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio on Thursday night as he scored on his first touch in his first game in nearly 11 months. It was all he needed to prove he should start on the right-wing.
The comparisons to Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale were bound to happen when Marco Asensio entered the match for Real Madrid in the 3-0 victory over Valencia on Thursday night when the man who is coming off of a serious knee injury scores a goal and provides an assist in 20 minutes of work.
Yes, Asensio has now scored as many goals as Hazard in his first season with the club and has now scored the same number of goals as Bale when playing at home over the last year.
This also provided Real Madrid fans a chance to take shots at Ousmane Dembele who has also managed just one goal this season for FC Barcelona.
While the jokes are funny and get people hot and bothered on Twitter, there is something far more important that Madridistas should be discussing heading into this weekend’s tie with Real Sociedad.
It’s obvious to me and many around the world now what Zinedine Zidane must down moving forward. He should play Marco Asensio on the right-wing as much as possible.
Now, not two months ago, I was arguing that Marco should be shutdown for the remainder of this season as a precaution. After seeing the way he moved on and off the ball and his natural ability to get involved in the attack and create chances, I am left eating my words.
Zizou has tried a litany of players on that right flank and none of them – other than Rodrygo – can deliver like Asensio. The Spaniard has been a consistent playmaker in the side since moving over from RCD Mallorca and even though this injury could’ve halted his career dead in its tracks, he is back and raring to get more minutes.
I do worry about his fitness levels and soreness he may feel in that knee that he had to have surgically repaired, but this is a crucial stretch of matches where Real Madrid will need the best of the best every matchday.
Zidane has been awaiting Marco’s return to the lineup and applauded his performance in the post-match presser, saying “It means an awful lot, especially to him. We’re happy to see Marco out on the pitch. After 8 months we’re so pleased, and especially to see him score a fantastic goal with his first touch, I’m thrilled for him.”
All that being said, I am hesitant to say outright, ‘put Marco Asensio in as a starter on the right-wing.’ No, I am saying that Zidane should use him as a super sub and help build his fitness up before having him play 60 to 90 minutes.
Rodrygo or Bale could and probably should still be starting matches on that right side if the team is playing a 4-3-3. But as we saw in the first half against Valencia, a 4-4-2 is not the worst thing in the world.
The Real Madrid manager has a lot to think about after the result last night, but one thing is for certain, Marco Asensio is back like he never left!