Real Madrid came into LaLiga’s Matchday 4 with the understanding that they may miss some key players due to recent international fixtures, in addition to the ongoing injuries to midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. While Modric has apparently recovered and the South American players could be available on short rest, Los Blancos now have a familiar injury to deal with up front.
After a positive start to the season, which included an early goal against Levante, right winger Gareth Bale has suffered a last-minute injury before the Santiago Bernabeu return against a threatening Celta Vigo side.
Jose Luis Sanchez reported that Bale is dealing with some serious discomfort in his right hamstring and is thus unavailable. Madridistas can only hope the team’s best starting right forward won’t miss more than this match, as the Champions League is starting soon.
Let’s take a look at three possible forward lines that could be in play with Bale out.
LW Vinicius Junior, CF Karim Benzema, RW Rodrygo Goes
There have been some rumblings that all-important superstar Karim Benzema could be rested against Celta Vigo due to some recent discomfort with the French national team. Madridistas can no longer count on their No. 9 having real breaks during international football, though that is a small price to pay in order to watch Benz with the ball at his feet in the legendary blue kit.
In any case, we rarely see Benzema missing, and a home match at the Bernabeu against Celta is an important one. Therefore, it is likely that he remains in the XI with Rodrygo Goes instead replacing Bale directly.
We know Rodrygo is naturally a left winger, but he is the best option on the right when Bale is out. The only other option would be to start Marco Asensio, who has been seemingly moved to the midfield in a last-ditch effort by Carlo Ancelotti to help coax something out of him.
FW Karim Benzema, FW Eden Hazard
Madridistas have wondered if Eduardo Camavinga could make his Real Madrid debut at the vaunted Santiago Bernabeu as a starter, with fellow youngster Antonio Blanco also in the lineup in a double-pivot with Isco in the 10 role. That may not be in the cards on Matchday 4, but a diamond formation is still a possibility, including in a 4-4-2.
If Carlo Ancelotti decides to depart from the classic 4-3-3, we could see a front two with Eden Hazard occupying a central role and playing off of Karim Benzema. We have seen this setup before, with either Vinicius Junior or Eden Hazard next to Benzema.
I would not consider this a likely formation, but it is in play. Because Ancelotti may not be enamored with the idea of starting the inconsistent Marco Asensio on the right side. He may also have hesitancy about starting Rodrygo Goes as a right winger, given it is not a position from which he is known for scoring goals.
Thus, a midfield trio of Isco, Hazard, and Benzema operating in central areas with the midfielders and fullbacks providing most of the width and running could be a solution.
Luka Jovic could start in a two-striker setup, but that opportunity may not come this weekend, despite fears regarding Benzema’s workload. The young striker is himself a doubt, per MARCA’s Santiago Siguero, due to gastroenteritis.
LW Vinicius Junior, ST Karim Benzema, RW Eden Hazard
Perhaps Carlo Ancelotti will try to throw a curveball with an unbalanced formation. Eden Hazard tucks in heavily with Dani Carvajal or a midfielder like Fede Valverde or Luka Modric overlapping. Thus, Hazard, fresh off a good performance for the Belgian national team against the Czech Republic, is in a playmaking role with Vinicius cutting inside from wide across from him.
The Real Madrid manager may prefer to have Rodrygo Goes in a bench role so that he can come on later as an impact sub on the left or right, depending on what makes the most sense. Considering Hazard has had trouble lasting 90 minutes, he may be the more logical sub.
That said, the big appeal here is getting both Hazard and Vinicius Junior on the pitch at the same time. These three men are Real’s best attacking players, and you would think that Ancelotti wants to maximize their minutes. We know how good Hazard can be without injury, and perhaps the performance for Belgium is a sign of things to come.
Vinicius is the man in form, and with Bale’s injury, this could be an opportunity for Ancelotti to try something new with Hazard and his attacking tactics. Maybe it will pay dividends against Celta Vigo, who are known for playing fluid attacking football but are just as known for being vulnerable at the back end to an opponent’s high-flying offense.