Real Madrid: 3 players who need more minutes after Matchday 13

RW Rodrygo Goes

Whereas Eder Militao and Luka Jovic have missed time this season due to injury and COVID-19, Rodrygo Goes has consistently been available for Real Madrid. And he’s also played quite a bit when you combine his Champions League and La Liga minutes.

The thing is, he’s rarely a starter. Rodrygo has played in 261 minutes in the Champions League, but he has as many starts (three) as substitute appearances despite having two goal contributions. In La Liga, Rodrygo has three assists in only two starts and six substitute appearances for a total of 294 minutes. That means Isco, Marcelo, and Nacho all have more minutes than Rodrygo.

Given that Rodrygo is better on the left wing and that he’s outplaying Vinicius Junior, it is time to think about starting him over Vini with Eden Hazard likely unavailable until 2021.

Rodrygo is capable of starting on the right or the left, but his future is as a left winger. And on the left, he could give Real Madrid the long-term goals and star power they need. We have seen that star power on the left against both Osasuna and Alaves last season, though his opportunities have been limited.

Hopefully, Zinedine Zidane makes giving Rodrygo starts a priority, because it’s a bit of a problem that he’s made more appearances off the bench than in the XI when you consider he has more goal contributions per 90 than any other player not named “Karim Benzema”.