Real Madrid: 5 burning questions from a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo

Why is Mariano Diaz ahead of Luka Jovic?

I know we deride some of the “Luka Jovic FC” fans who seem to pan Zinedine Zidane at every turn and beg for an unproven young striker to start over one of the greatest forwards in the history of Real Madrid. But it is true that Jovic is in a tough situation. You hate to see any young player receiving so little playing time, and it’s a little frustrating that Real spent 60 million euros on a forward just to stuff him on the bench.

At least last year at around this time, Jovic would get five minutes off the bench to run around. Yeah, we mocked it and it wasn’t ideal, but it’s better than literally nothing.

Zinedine Zidane made a customary stoppage time substitution at striker, except he brought in Mariano Diaz over Luka Jovic. It’s not the first time he’s put Mariano in the match for Karim Benzema over Jovic either.

Mariano did nothing and had no real chance at doing anything, so maybe that’s why Zidane put him in. He just said, “Screw it, have some fun, man.”

But in the back of my mind, I wonder if it’s because he didn’t want to risk Jovic getting hurt with the January transfer window beginning. Real Madrid could loan Jovic to, say, Milan, and keep Mariano around as Benzema’s backup. Mariano’s playing style suits Zidane better, and it’s easier for Zidane to rely on someone with more experience. I would advise Madridistas to “watch this space” when it comes to Jovic.