Real Madrid: 5 takeaways from a lethargic 0-0 draw vs. Villarreal

Marco Asensio did not stand a chance

Marco Asensio did not play well at all. Let me get that out of the way first. I think it is fair to say that he was atrocious and should have been subbed off sooner for Isco. But having said all of that, I also think it is important to examine why he struggled so much and come to an understanding that Carlo Ancelotti did not put him in a good position to succeed.

Real Madrid started Fede Valverde at right back and Rodrygo Goes as a right winger. That right there highlights a major problem. Fede is not a right back. I know he works hard and has the heart to contribute anywhere, but he has zero clue what he is doing at that position. Rodrygo at right winger is a farce that needs to end soon. He has the technical quality, effort, and tactical awareness to not embarrass himself, but his impact is close to zero in many games at this position. He is too wide, and he struggles to truly combine or take players on.

So basically, Marco Asensio was starting as a left-footed No. 10 who drifts in from the right onto his left foot in a side that had nothing going for it on the right flank. He was starting as a 10 for a team that had one of the most embarrassingly disorganized and ineffective presses that we have ever seen in LaLiga Santander. Such was the low point we saw in the first half before Ancelotti subbed Rodrygo and made the ill-advised decision to switch Asensio back to the right flank.

Asensio had little service, no space, and no understanding with many of his teammates. He holds some responsibility for his performance, but against an opponent like Villarreal where a gameplan must be carefully crafted to create chances for a 10 in the middle of the pitch, Ancelotti failed his player miserably.