Real Madrid: Marco Asensio can be Carlo Ancelotti’s main starter at RW

The current season under Carlo Ancelotti, as many answers as it has given, is producing a lot more questions regularly. Is Eden Hazard’s career at Real Madrid all but over? Will Luka Modrić get a contract extension? Can Real Madrid find a way to kill games before the team invites pressure and indirectly, a way for the opposition to crawl back into the game during the dying embers of the game?

We saw the latter-most question being answered today. Real Madrid scored two goals in the first half before seeing Granada rise to the challenge and pull one back. The home side definitely had their heads up when the second half began, but it was all Los Blancos during that second 45 minutes. Carlo’s men most certainly found a way to kill the game. Almost effortlessly, I might add.

Marco Asensio is a man whose future is currently being discussed a lot in the Spanish media, with rumours of a possible contract renewal.

Our very own Kevin Parvizi wrote a piece underlining Ancelotti’s plans when it comes to Asensio. And I think we saw those plans being executed pretty well by the player in the game against Granada.

Marco Asensio has shown he can be Carlo Ancelotti’s best bet on the right wing

The #11 opened the scoring, making a good run after a needle-eyed through ball by Toni Kroos. Instead of chipping the ball (something he tried in the previous game, failing to find the back of the net), he hit it with his weaker right foot. The ball bounced off the keeper and rolled into the back of the net. That goal set the tone for Real Madrid.

That goal, while placing Real Madrid in a comfortable position, helped Marco Asensio grow in confidence. There was something different about him today. He looked the sharpest he has looked in a long time, his ability to create a separation from his man was somewhat reminiscent of the 2016-17 season. The hunger was visible. He wanted to make things happen. He wanted the play to run through his feet whenever he had the opportunity. I am sure you all remember that instance where he played a crossfield ball to Vinícius Júnior in the first half. That delivery was top-notch.

Prior to the international break, he started three games on the trot: Osasuna, Elche, and Rayo Vallecano. He played 69, 72, and 83 minutes respectively. Taking today’s game into account, he has played 314 minutes across the last four games, starting each of them. He has a goal and an assist during this time. While the numbers are nothing to write home about, Marco Asensio has been shown that he has much more to offer than just goals and assists. It was on show during those previous three games. It was on show today.

It might be safe to say that the right wing role was Rodrygo’s before the international break. But a small injury to him forced Ancelotti to turn to Marco Asensio, who has excelled. While Ancelotti did say earlier this season that he sees Asensio as someone who can thrive as a midfielder, the sort of displays Asensio is putting on is only clouding Carlo’s mind with doubt.

Although I am obviously in favour of Rodrygo eventually getting back that right wing spot, it will be difficult to keep Marco Asensio on the bench. Ancelotti mentioned in the post-match presser that the former Mallorca prodigy can be a starter. He said the same about a certain Brazilian in August and look what he is doing with all those opportunities.

The season is heading into a condensed schedule, which I expect will bring an end to the debate of who will be Ancelotti’s first-choice right winger. But Asensio’s stocks have definitely risen. And risen they have at the right time.

Someone who was once labeled the most promising youngster in world football, can he finally fulfill that promise, at 25 years of age, heading into his prime? Only time can tell. But this headache that Ancelotti has is certainly a good one to have. Asensio, at the moment, is more than capable of holding that right wing spot on his own.