Real Madrid: Predicting the top 3 leaders in assists for 2021-22
By Sudhir Salvi
Carlo Ancelotti is back and so is the beautiful attacking brand of football which Real Madrid are synonymous with. The Italian has made a positive start to life in the Spanish capital.
Los Blancos lead La Liga and are looking like genuine contenders this season. With 23 goals to their name already in just eight games across all competitions, it is fair to say that Ancelotti is getting the best out of all his players at Real Madrid. In addition to that, the former Everton manager is still yet to welcome the top versions of some of his lesser-used players.
Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, and Eden Hazard have not yet hit the optimum level of form which can see them become unassailable players, while Ferland Mendy is also still to play a single game this season along with Dani Carvajal whose continuity has been hampered by another injury.
By November, it is expected that a fair portion of the players will be back and for good, Los Merengues will put their injury issues to bed once and for all. Madrid will be competing in four competitions this season and a piece of silverware or two will surely do the squad a whole lot of good. Here’s a look at the three players who are likely to bag the most assists in the campaign.
#1. KARIM BENZEMA
Karim Benzema already has seven assists in La Liga in seven matches. His passing has always been absolutely brilliant and this season, he has the support of Vinicius Junior to finish off- something that lacked in the last three seasons following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, and Rodrygo Goes can be consistent goal-scorers going forward too.
Being the all-around player that he is, Benzema is undoubtedly everyone’s best bet to be the club’s leading goal-getter by the end of the season and there’s no reason why he will not get more assists to his name. One of the only drawbacks with Benzema this season as compared to the last few ones is that he will be very busy even during the international breaks on duty with France.
This could lead to him slightly slowing down and facing some barren runs during the season. Also, he is at risk of injury if he is not given adequate rest considering that his age is slowly catching up to him as well. If Madrid can win La Liga and probably contend for the Champions League and go all the way against the odds, there’ll be no stopping Benzema to the Ballon d’Or.