Real Madrid: Three Players Who Need To Shine After The Break

Real Madrid will need several players to step up and shine when they return to action if they wish to retain their La Liga crown.

Real Madrid players have a jam-packed month of action ahead of them following the International break. Los Blancos return to La Liga action against Cadiz before starting their Champions League campaign versus Shakhtar Donetsk. Three days later, the Royal Whites travel to Barcelona for El Classico. They also face Huesca and Valencia in the league while taking on Monchengladbach and Inter Milan in the UCL in the next 22 days.

If Zinedine Zidane’s men want to come out on top at the end of these fixtures, key players need to step up their game. Real Madrid showed two primary problems in the four matches they played in La Liga before the break.

The first problem was their inability to finish their chances. Goal-scoring has been an issue for Zidane’s team in their La Liga winning 2019/2020 season. Going by what we have seen so far, it continues to haunt them.

The second issue is that the Merengues are conceding too many chances in transition. If not for the heroics of Thibaut Courtois and to a certain degree Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid might not be returning from the break at the top of the table. So here are the three players who need to shine after the International break to minimize these problems.

Real Madrid RW Marco Asensio

Marco Asensio is no longer a young footballing sensation. When he broke into the scene in the 2016/17 season as a promising youngster, it was fun watching him play entertaining minutes for the B-team and scoring golazos off the bench.

Now the former Mallorca player is 24 years old, and he needs to step up and shine this season. If Asensio cannot establish himself as the de facto starter in Zidane’s Real Madrid now, it might be the end of his time at the Bernabeau. Los Blancos need goals from their forwards, and the Spaniard is capable of a goal contribution every other game.

The attacking midfielder recently stated that he feels better than before his injury, and now is the time to show that on the pitch. Asensio needs to deliver on the promise, and after the International break will the perfect time to start.

Real Madrid LW Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior has been a bright spot in the past few games. He seems to be Real Madrid’s most threatening player in the final third. The Brazillian also scored two goals in two games before the break.

However, Vinicius also missed a couple of clear opportunities – one of them should have been an easy tap-in. Goal scoring is where he needs to step up big. The young winger needs to put on his shooting boots and finish his chances.

If both Asensio and Vinicius take their game to the next level following the current international break, Los Blancos will be in a prime position heading into El Classico.

Real Madrid DM Casemiro

Casemiro is another player that Madridistas are hoping to see back in his 2019/2020 form. The Merengues’ defensive midfielder had a spectacular campaign in Royal White colors last season. He was a massive reason behind Real Madrid’s record-breaking defensive showing.

The current season has not been as efficient from the Brazillian, and hence, Los Blancos look like a suspect in their transition defending. It was evident against both Real Betis and Levante.

Zidane will be hoping to see Casemiro back at his best to help the team strengthen in the middle of the field. When he is at his best, the Brazillian eliminates most of the defensive issues Real Madrid is facing in transition.