Real Madrid: 5 players who are crucial for a title push

The LaLiga title race is on with the season approaching its business end. As things stand, all 3 heavyweights – Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid have their reasons to believe that the title could be theirs. Real Madrid is looking much better since the return of Benzema and Ramos and it is visible in Real’s intent on the field that they are eyeing a title push. As such, here are five players whose contributions will be crucial for Real’s chances on a second consecutive LaLiga title.

5. Fede Valverde

Federico Valverde has been an energetic addition to Real’s midfield. His style of play has a lot more urgency in it and that makes his presence felt on the field. In the usual scheme of things, Zidane would still prefer his ever-trusted midfield trio of Kroos-Modric-Casemiro for starting most of Real’s remaining fixtures. More so because every single game from here on would be crucial if they are eyeing the title this season.

But, in the last two matches, Zidane has been operating with two players in front and a rather elaborate five-player midfield arrangement. Here, it could be one of two things. Firstly, following Casemiro’s suspension in the match against Atalanta, this could have been a back-up midfield setup. Second, this is a possible way to get Fede Valverde into the starting XI, given that the 22-year-old Uruguayan has impressed him so much as to have him in a permanent starter position.

However Madrid chooses to line-up in the upcoming matches, Valverde’s contributions would indeed be crucial. As a starter or even a substitute, his style of play changes Madrid’s intent by great degrees. It has been evident in the recent matches. El Derbi for example, it was Valverde’s introduction that brought about an urgency in Los Blancos’s play to get that equalizer and rescue the game. It is also clear that Zidane looks up to him in times of need. He is the go-to player whenever the team requires energy on the field.