Real Madrid: Young standout could seize starting role in LaLiga opener and beyond

Real Madrid will face Deportivo Alaves on Saturday night at the Mendizorroza in their 2021-2022 LaLiga season opener. Last year, Real started the season with a 0-0 draw on the road against Real Sociedad, and they will want to start off with all three points in this tough road matchup. Though they are clear favorites, things won’t be easy due to a handful of injuries.

Starting fullbacks Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal are not fit. Toni Kroos will be out in midfield, leaving Isco as the likely option to start. Even Karim Benzema could be out, pending how quickly he has recovered from COVID-19.

A new injury was added to the report this Friday, as Marcelo, who was initially scheduled to start for Mendy, was ruled out. And now, it seems as though Real Madrid will turn to Miguel Gutierrez at left back with both Mendy and Marcelo injured.

In truth, Miguel should have been the preferred backup plan to Mendy over Marcelo. Though Marcelo is now captain after Sergio Ramos’ departure to PSG, he is coming off a very poor season. He did not impress in the preseason either.

Miguel Gutierrez is more of a competitor to Ferland Mendy than Marcelo at Real Madrid this season

Meanwhile, Miguel was fantastic to close the 2020-2021 campaign at left back, standing out as one of the team’s best players in the final few matches. He picked up where he left off in the preseason, too, playing at a high level in a recent 0-0 draw with Milan.

Miguel has a huge opportunity, then, against Alaves this weekend. He will get the start on Matchday 1, but a big performance could help the 20-year-old rise up the depth chart. Carlo Ancelotti seems to favor the veterans, but we have heard that he has Miguel on his list of Castilla players whom he wants to give opportunities to.

Yes, Miguel’s opportunity this Saturday night will come out of necessity due to two injuries at left back, but it is an opportunity nonetheless. Based on everything we have seen from Miguel, we can feel solid in our belief that he will seize this chance. He has never played below a high standard in his limited first-team appearances, and that is a credit to his maturity.

Gifted on the ball and assured in defense, Miguel isn’t a challenger to Marcelo. He should already be seen as the better option, which he will affirm this weekend at Alaves. No, Miguel is actually a challenger to Mendy, who is elite defensively but does not offer the same one-on-one quality and technical delivery that the younger Miguel does.

Right from Matchday 1, Miguel will make a statement to Madrdidistas and to Don Carlo that he merits consideration and minutes in the starting XI. The Mendizorroza could be the venue to another sparkling performance from the Real Madrid prospect, who offers a skill-set at left back Real could use in conjunction with Mendy’s more defensive qualities. Miguel is a man whom Madridistas are very much high on.