Real Madrid: 3 things we have learned about the defense

Ferland Mendy can excel at center back

This item is a more recent thing we have learned about the Real Madrid defense, and it stems from a very clever, experimental formation utilized by Zinedine Zidane to navigate an injury-depleted squad against Jose Boradalas’ rough-and-tough Getafe. Los Blancos won the match 2-0, and Mendy played a starring role as one of the top three players on the pitch.

Mendy started as the left-sided center back in a back three, with Zidane using a 3-4-3 to counter Getafe. The French defender was brilliant at recovering the ball and let nothing get by him. His lone blemish on the night was a booking for a literal tackle on loanee Takfusa Kubo before the Japanese international could receive the pass.

In addition to the world-class defending, Mendy made some nice touches in his own penalty box and then saved his best touch yet for the 2-0 goal in the opposition’s penalty box.

It was a dreamy performance from Mendy, who has often drifted inside as a left back to suit Zidane’s needs. Mendy is an accurate passer who keeps things safe and simple, and he completed nearly 98 percent of his team-high 86 attempts vs. Getafe. But Mendy’s actual deliveries into the box and passing range leave a lot to be desired at left back, to be honest.

So Mendy as a left center back in the future? That is something worth keeping an eye on, because he was unstoppable against Getafe.