Real Madrid: Three individual battles to watch against Granada

Real Madrid RB Fede Valverde vs. Granada LW Darwin Machis

Granada have an even better winger on the opposite side of the formation in Venezuelan star Darwn Machis. He is one of the team’s leading scorers with five goals, and he will be one of their main goal-scoring threats along with 39-year-old Jorge Molina.

Machis is an explosive talent and a well-rounded winger who works extremely hard for his team. Real Madrid could suffer just as much on this flank, because they might not be able to play a right back. Alvaro Odriozola has his own questions in defense, but he could be missed on Thursday night due to a muscular overload.

If he cannot play, Real will turn to Fede Valverde at right back. Valverde played well in the Champions League against Sadio Mane, but the weird thing is that Machis could cause him more trouble due to Machis’ experience against Real and Mane’s admittedly poor form in 2021.

Machis averages 1.3 dribbles completed per game and 1.5 fouls drawn per game, according to WhoScored.com. He is incisive on the ball and will be Granada’s best player on the pitch with Yangel Herrera out due to injury. Machis vs. either Odriozola or Valverde could be a matchup that decides this vital fixture. Let’s see who steps up on Thursday night at Los Carmenes.