Real Madrid: The man who can be the secret weapon in El Clasico

Real Madrid will face Barcelona at the Camp Nou this Sunday for the first Clasico of the season. And the first Clasico without Lionel Messi since 2005. There are a number of players who can make a big difference for Los Blancos in this must-win fixture, but one man who could very well swing the balance of the match in the visitors’ favor is not a guaranteed starter.

Fede Valverde lives for rivalry matches. As we saw in the Spanish Supercup Final triumph, Fede is willing to get his jersey dirty with an intentional red card in order to win a trophy against one of his club’s most hated rivals.

Additionally, Valverde has earned plaudits for his fine work in Clasicos, outshining the more highly-priced and media-recognized Frenkie de Jong. The talented Dutch midfielder is deserving of the praise he gets, but he is reduced to a mirage when he goes up against the engine that is Fede.

It seems as if Carlo Ancelotti will roll into Matchday 10 with his old guard starting in midfield. That would leave Valverde outside the looking glass in midfield, which is not a common occurrence for him in rivalry matches. There is a new sheriff in town, but it must be said that Zinedine Zidane placed the utmost value in his tireless midfielder in these matches, even when he was inexperienced in the 2019-2020 season.

Fede Valverde could help Lucas Vazquez significantly

Despite the likely decision to stick with the 4-3-3 and the same midfield that dominated Shakhtar Donetsk in Tuesday’s revenge mission in Kyiv, Valverde could be the one change from that setup if Ancelotti decides to pick him on the right wing.

Apparently, Ancelotti is still mulling over who will start in that position, with his options being traditional forward Rodrygo Goes and the sensational Uruguayan.

Really, he can’t go wrong with either. Rodrygo is not as confident on the right as on the left, but his technique and intelligence lend themselves well to competent play and the occasional clutch moment. Not only did Rodrygo score in this week’s Champions League win, but he also scored the winning goal against an even bigger opponent in the Champions League, finding the back of the net late in a 1-0 win against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

Valverde played a role in the build-up to that goal, though. And he has always been heavily involved for Real Madrid. His ball-winning may be all the more important to Madrid with Lucas Vazquez, who is not known for his defense, at right back. Valverde can cover for him and tuck inside for Luka Modric, allowing Modric freedom while also giving Vazquez the green light to charge ahead.

There are real positives to starting Valverde, as undroppable as all three members of the traditional triumvirate are. Valverde’s skill-set melds just as well with Toni Kroos’ as Modric’s does, and that’s some of the highest praise I can give to the 23-year-old.

We all know what Fede is capable of. He is a man with a third lung, doing his damndest to grow a fourth. Valverde’s effort and defense overshadow his offensive qualities, which are burgeoning and already place him in the upper echelon in Europe. Barcelona fear him, as do every opponent. No matter where he plays or how many minutes, Valverde can provide the intensity and X-Factor that gives Real Madrid the three points over their eternal rivals for a fourth straight time.