Lucas Vazquez makes a La Liga Team of the Week despite injury

How good is Lucas Vazquez? Real Madrid fans are going to miss the versatile right-sided player for the rest of the season after his injury against Barcelona. His performances this season have been so clutch for Real, considering he’s been more than passable at right back in Dani Carvajal’s absence due to injury.

Vazquez did not even play 45 minutes in El Clasico this Saturday, but he still managed to make a profound impact on the match for Los Blancos.

So profound, in fact that Vazquez made it into WhoScored.com’s La Liga Team of the Week for Matchday 30 despite his limited playing time.

Check out the full team below, which includes Barça goal-scorer Oscar Mingueza, former Real Madrid man Jorge de Frutos (a potential Vazquez replacement), Marc Bartra, Fernando, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Rafa Mir and the wonderful Iago Aspas up top.

Lucas Vazquez was the only Real Madrid player in WhoScored’s La Liga Team of the Week after El Clasico win

What a sight to behold Vazquez there on the right-hand side, representing Real Madrid in this statistically-based best XI after Los Blancos’ third straight Clasico triumph.

Vazquez must have been brilliant in his 43 minutes in order to make it in over every other right back, and it is definitely true that he left his mark on El Clasico despite the injury.

After all, the Galician right winger and right back delivered the opening assist, crossing the ball low to Karim Benzema, who finished in style. The backheel flick was all Benz, and Fede Valverde set up the goal initially with a great run on the ball. But Vazquez deserved the assist due to the pinpoint placement of his pass.

In addition to the assist, the 29-year-old had two tackles and two clearances, according to WhoScored.com. He also drew a foul and completed nearly 90 percent of his passes before being forced off the pitch after he and Sergio Busquets collided when they both slid in with the ball. (And thus, yet another grievance against Busquets from the perspective of Madridistas.)

All told, Vazquez had another great Clasico performance after being one of the heroes in the first match against Barcelona this season. He’s had a number of important big-game displays in 2020-2021, and this was another one. Yes, it was marred by injury, and Real Madrid will miss him. But let’s fondly remember that first half and appreciate his standing in this WhoScored Team of the Week for La Liga. Hopefully, this wasn’t his last game in the Royal White kit.