Real Madrid: The candidates to start at right back against Atalanta

Nacho Fernandez

With Sergio Ramos out with a long term injury, Nacho has been covering for him as the team’s left center back. He has done brilliantly in the absence of Ramos, and he hasn’t committed many mistakes. He has the ability to play in every defensive position in the backline. Most probably he’ll feature in the game against Atalanta as a center back (barring any surprises or injury issues), but there’s a possibility of him being used as a right back.

Nacho has the experience of playing as a right back in a World Cup game, UEFA Champions League final and in a Round of 16 Champions League game against PSG while having to defend Neymar. He has done very well there, being decent in attack and rock solid in defence. Attacking-wise, he’s not better than Lucas, but defensively he’s a lot better.

If Eder Militao returns from his injury, then Zidane will be left with three center backs. Then there might be a slight chance of Zidane using Nacho as an RB. And if Lucas is used as an RW (if Vinicius or Asensio are benched), there will be an increased chance of Nacho featuring as an RB. But there’s a very small chance of this happening, and there have been instances of Militao being benched and Lucas being used as an RB ahead of Nacho this season.