Real Madrid are in a bit of a transition year. Well, they have been in a state of transition since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus, as replacing arguably the best player of all time is no easy task. Even so, Los Blancos won the league in their second season without Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane nearly had a second title in 2020-2021, had it not been for some late heroics from long-time nemesis Luis Suarez.
This season, Real are once again in prime position to win LaLiga, but this time with a different old friend, Carlo Ancelotti, in charge. Los Blancos have the highest goal differential in the league at the November international “break”, and they have a game in hand on the team that is only in first place by one point.
Let’s look at five major takeaways from the 2021-2022 season thus far.
Real Madrid still have world-class center backs
At the start of the season, some Madridistas were uncertain about the state of the defense, especially after the club allowed three goals to Levante. But since Toni Kroos’ return, Ferland Mendy’s return, and more balance in Ancelotti’s tactical setup, Real have been strong defensively. Even though they have been vulnerable in transition, the excellence of their center backs and goalkeeper have helped Los Blancos hold firm.
When David Alaba and Eder Militao start together in defense, they are nearly impenetrable. Militao has been one of LaLiga’s best players at making interventions, while Alaba calmly breaks up play, including in his own penalty box. His intelligence, vision, and willingness to stand in the firing line of any shot have made the difference for Los Blancos on multiple occasions.
In Alaba and Militao, Los Blancos, once again, have the best center back partnership in the Spanish top flight. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are still missed and formed one of the best duos of all time, but going forward, Militao and Alaba might be stronger players. They truly do complement each other brilliantly.
Carlo Ancelotti can’t revive everyone
Real Madrid fans were optimistic that Carlo Ancelotti, a noted player’s coach, could help coax better form out of the out-of-favor veteran players. And at times, he has. Gareth Bale scored against Levante and looked promising before an injury. Isco had some bright moments to start the season. And though he has been cast aside on the bench, Eden Hazard was doing a great job of creating chances at one point.
Though there were these positives, the trio of Hazard, Isco, and Bale has been unable to assert themselves in a meaningful way. Bale’s injuries continue to get the better of him, and while he could help the team, Real Madrid cannot rely on him in any way.
Hazard is in a similar situation with injuries. But more to the point, he does not fit the team even when fit. Hazard is now a central playmaker. Real Madrid do not have this position their 4-3-3. The free role unbalances the formation too much. Meanwhile, Hazard is no longer a winger stylistically, and his old position, left wing, has been taken up by a much better player in Vinicius Junior.
Isco has been the most intriguing of the three, but his situation is a little similar to Hazard’s. In the modern game, Isco does not fit what Madrid need from their midfielders and wingers. And if they want to accommodate a central playmaker, why him over Marco Asensio or Hazard? The latter is better, and the former can still be sold. Isco’s contract is running out anyway.
Ancelotti cannot work miracles. He has helped these three players on the pitch, but in each case, something within the team’s stability was sacrificed. Most of all, Ancelotti cannot change injury struggles or contractual situations. He can only work with the hand he is dealt.
Real Madrid could have an eventful winter
Real Madrid may try to put in a bid for Kylian Mbappe just to prove a point to PSG, but they aren’t going to have the future No. 7 of the Santiago Bernabeu in their ranks until next summer. That said, the Mbappe rumor mill will be busy with the prospect of a pre-contract agreement in January. (We’ll see how PSG and their fans take that…)
Aside from Mbappe, there are other situations to watch closely. Dortmund probably won’t end Reinier’s loan, but his situation and that of Borja Mayoral’s in Serie A are worth watching. It is not impossible for us to see another switched loan, just as Real moved Takefsua Kubo from Villarreal to Getafe (with no positive effect).
In terms of players exiting, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, and Luka Jovic have all been linked with moves out of Madrid. None of those three players is expected to go, though an intriguing offer from, say, Newcastle for Hazard could make things interesting. I get the feeling Hazard wants to stay with the club more than the club wants him. Florentino Perez knows his salary is expensive, and he has ambitions of fitting Erling Haaland and Mbappe into his galactic 2022-2023 squad.
I get the feeling we could see one major move in the winter transfer window. Real Madrid may be good for a surprise in January, and if the right dominos fall – again, the Newcastle sportswashing cash influx is key here – a high-profile exit or even entrance is not out of the question.
Of course, there is one player who will almost definitely be the subject of a transfer. Dani Ceballos. I say “almost”, because, the question is, if Real Betis doesn’t want him back, who else does?
Fede Valverde is needed
The absences of Toni Kroos and Ferland Mendy due to overuse injuries absolutely highlighted the importance of both players. It’s no coincidence that Real Madrid straight-up dominated Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 with both starters back in the XI.
Lately, Real Madrid center midfielder Fede Valverde has been out with an injury he sustained in a tough 2-1 Clasico triumph at the Camp Nou. While Valverde did not start the 2021-2022 season as hotly as the 2020-2021 season, which was also eventually derailed due to injury, the loss of the young midfielder has been felt.
Real look tired when Valverde is not around. Luka Modric has to start every match, and that wears on him. Casemiro has to cover more ground, and he already covers more than enough ground as the best defensive-focused midfielder in the game. And Valverde’s absences further hurts the team in transition, given his pace and grace on the ball. Yes, that is a rare combo.
Valverde has been in the XI in just one match since the start of October. So for more than a month, he has not registered more than 130 minutes of action. That ends up catching up to Madrid, even if you want to still argue that the best Madrid midfield remains the legendary trio of Casemiro, Modric, and Kroos. With huge matches coming up including El Derbi, which may very well be Fede’s favorite fixture, getting the 23-year-old back will be crucial to Los Merengues.
This season will be Karim Benzema’s biggest test
Karim Benzema had the best start to the season of any player in the world. Even with “only” two goals in his last five LaLiga matches, the French superstar is still sitting in the league lead with 10 goals. And he is still leading everyone in Spain with seven assists.
Benzema has not been as prolific lately. He looks a bit worn down. It’s no wonder why, too, given he is now a crucial striker for both the biggest club in the world and the most-favored country in the world as we head into next year’s World Cup. France will be keen on defending their 2018 crown, and Benz is a vital part of that effort. After all, he was instrumental in Les Bleus securing the UEFA Nations League trophy.
All of this responsibility is taking its toll on Benz. Though the 33-year-old is in amazing shape and takes care of his body like his former teammate Ronaldo, nobody can withstand the demands Benzema is under when you look at how much ground he has to cover on both ends of the pitch. Benz isn’t just the league leader in goals and assists. He defends and drops deep to create, too. That’s what makes him so revered by people who truly study the game.
Benzema is, therefore, in the thick of his toughest season. He must juggle being THE guy for Real Madrid with being one of the superstars of the French national team, which has sky-high expectations on the level of Los Blancos now. Benz is getting more help from Vinicius Junior, just as Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and others help him with the national team. But that doesn’t change the extent of the demands the No. 9 is under.