Real Madrid: 3 X-Factors against Levante on Matchday 5

Real Madrid will face Levante on Sunday in La Liga. Here are three X-Factors that could decide the game for Los Blancos.

On Wednesday, Real Madrid squeaked by Real Valladolid 1-0 in their 2020-2021 home opener at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, with the winning goal coming from substitute Vinicius Junior. It wasn’t an easy game for Los Blancos even though it should have been, but they avoided dropping points on their own soil.

This Sunday, the Royal Whites will take on Levante, who sit 13th in the league with their three points coming from a 3-1 victory over Osasuna.

Here are three X-Factors for Real Madrid in this weekend’s clash with Levante.

Real Madrid’s right back situation

Dani Carvajal will miss about two months with an injury, meaning Real Madrid will be without one of the world’s best right backs for a lengthy period of time. The good news is that they actually have a right back this season, as Alvaro Odriozola has not been loaned.

Odriozola started on Wednesday against Real Valladolid and played well before coming off, completing three dribbles, per WhoScored.com. The speedy Odriozola isn’t nearly as reliable as Carvajal defensively, so some fans are concerned about his ability to cope as a regular starter in a back four.

Could Zinedine Zidane shift to a back three? Could Lucas Vazquez get more game time at right back? Those are questions worth asking heading into Sunday’s game, but look for Odriozola to get another start. It’s his temporary job to lose.