Real Madrid: Odriozola’s recent performances suggest that he’s turning the tide

Alvaro Odriozola has been one of the most criticized Real Madrid players this season. He has been at the club since the summer of 2018, with Florentino Perez signing the Spaniard from Real Sociedad, for a sum of approximately 30 million euros. He had an impressive debut season and played well as Dani Carvajal’s deputy.

But after Zinedine Zidane’s return to the Bernabeu, he had been of the less favored players and had reduced game time, due to which he opted to go to Bayern Munich on loan. He didn’t get much playing time at Bayern as well and returned to Madrid in the summer of 2020.

But everything didn’t go as per plan. He had to go off injured in his first match after his return. He suffered a calf injury which kept him out of action for more than 50 days and Lucas Vazquez climbed up the pecking order.

He did get occasional opportunities due to Dani Carvajal’s regular injuries this season, but Lucas Vazquez became the second-choice right-back, and he started all the important games in the absence of Madrid’s current number two. With reduced chances, increased injuries, and disappointing performances drew Odriozola a lot of criticism.

But now, it looks like Odriozola is slowly turning around his Real Madrid career

Ever since Lucas Vazquez’s season-ending injury suffered in the Clasico due to a foul from Sergio Busquets, Odriozola started getting more chances. He was subbed on in the 41st minute of the Clasico, and he produced a great performance against Real Madrid’s arch-rivals, with a slide tackle on Leo Messi in Barcelona’s own half being the highlight of his performance.

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But some minor defensive faults were still visible in Odriozola’s gameplay, which were further exposed in the next game against Getafe where he got 90 minutes. He started receiving a lot of flak, and it looked like his Real Madrid career was coming to an end this summer. Everyone knew the talent Odriozola had, but he looked like he was low on confidence, and needed a moment to boost that.

And he got his moment in the next game against Cadiz, where he started the game and scored Real Madrid’s second goal with a simple header at the far post. Maybe that goal was really the confidence boost he needed because he had been performing very well since that moment.

He was performing well, but he couldn’t get into Zidane’s plans for the big games in the UEFA Champions League, as he didn’t get to start any of the big game against Liverpool and Chelsea, and was only limited to substitutional appearances. But in the league, he kept getting minutes, as Dani Carvajal was injured after the Chelsea game. He started the game vs Osasuna and had a decent game against them in a 2-0 win.

He started developing more chemistry with his teammates, and the performances really improved after a consistent run of games. Then he got to start his first big game of the season, against Sevilla. He had a fantastic game vs Sevilla, where he impressed at both the ends of the pitch. He almost claimed an assist from a pin-point cross to Benzema, who buried the chance, but the goal was ruled out due to a controversial offside call on Odriozola.

But he kept delivering, as he took on players and beat them with his pace, and kept his body on the line at the other end in several instances, including a block which stopped a certain goal. Unfortunately, he suffered a muscular overload that stopped him from starting Thursday’s game against Granada. But he came on as a sub for Marvin at halftime and buried a cross from Eden Hazard with his left foot and scored the second goal of his season. He struck the ball with such power that it looked as if all the power was generated from the frustration he had all these days.

Odriozola’s performances have improved along with his confidence. Earlier he used to look very nervous, but now he is looking calm and confident. And most importantly he is playing to his strengths. He is making more runs and looking to be released by his teammates, getting into dangerous positions with his pace. His link-up play, crossing accuracy, marking skills and body strength have all improved with regular game-time.

The right back’s future has always been questioned in this season, and he has been often targeted by the critics. But Odriozola has taken the challenge seriously, and he has started giving his hundred percent to save his Real Madrid career, which is clearly visible in his performances. He’s working harder than ever, and making a solid case for himself to Carvajal’s deputy next season as well, and cover for him whenever he needs to.

Odriozola’s future might still be uncertain, but he’s slowly starting to turn around his career at Real Madrid. These recent performances from the 25-year-old do suggest that he can be a capable player. Hope he ends the season on a high note and gives an answer to all those question marks surrounding his future.