Real Madrid: 5 burning questions from a 1-1 draw with Elche

How can Real Madrid hide Marcelo?

I’m honestly baffled Marcelo started against Elche. Look, I understand that, realistically, he will have to play a few games this season going forward, because Ferland Mendy will inevitably need breaks since games are played every few days. But Mendy had a week of rest between the Granada and Elche matches, so he should have been as fresh as anyone to start.

Instead, Zinedine Zidane gambled with Marcelo. Well, honestly, “gamble” isn’t the right word, because a gamble implies that there is some chance of success. With Marcelo, you know what you get. In every single game this season, he has been a massive liability defensively, making critical errors in each match.

The 1-1 draw with Elche was no different, though I do have to give Marcelo credit for two things. Firstly, he was excellent offensively in the first half. And secondly, he didn’t directly cost Real Madrid a goal, which is better than what I could say for his other appearances this season.

Still, Marcelo was clearly a step below everyone else on the pitch in the second half – and I’m not restricting that claim to Real Madrid players.

If Zidane has to play Marcelo later this season, he needs to find a way to hide his weaknesses defensively. Having him and Sergio Ramos bomb up the pitch together while pinching Marcelo inside so that the entire left wing is open for a counter? Yeah, that’s not the answer.