Three takeaways from Real Madrid vs Rangers

Marcelo vs Miguel should not be a debate:

Marcelo is a legend, an undoubted Real Madrid icon, that will go down in history. However, that alone is not enough to merit his place within the team anymore. Whilst he may be the captain, he does not perform well enough to be a regular starter for the current team. His offensive abilities no longer mask his defensive fragilities, which have only gotten worse in recent times.

Throughout the match against Rangers, there were moments were Marcelo had lapses, there were moments he was off the pace going forwards and back. While you can attribute some of that to a lack of sharpness, we ultimately know Marcelo is not much better at his best than what we saw this evening.

Ferland Mendy is the clear and undisputed starter for Real, but the man to deputise for him should be Miguel and it should not be a debate. Within moments of coming on, Miguel had already made an impact, his driving runs much more superior to Marcelo, his overall energy a step above.

The Castilla graduate was inches away from scoring too, he simply brings more to the table than Marcelo at this time. Whilst nobody is forgetting the immense contribution of the Brazilian, there comes a time where the club must be realistic and realise the present and future is Miguel.