Real Madrid Mid-Season Report Card for 2021-2022: Vinicius Jr. among three A-plus players

Lucas Vazquez – C

After some extremely strong performances particularly at right-back last season, Lucas Vazquez signed a new contract until 2024. However, his performances have taken a dip this season. Lucas has still had a few opportunities to play and it’s clear that Ancelotti has some trust in him but the performances have not been great and at times, he has been very poor. He’ll need to pick himself up in the second half of the campaign as he’ll surely have an important part to play given that he’s Carvajal’s backup.

Eden Hazard – D

The story continues for Eden Hazard as he struggled with injuries this season before a couple of average performances. He was Ancelotti’s starter when the season began but Vinicius Junior changed his mind quickly and since then, we haven’t seen too much of the Belgian. He ended the first half of the season on a higher note though with two good performances against Cadiz and Athletic Bilbao.

Marco Asensio – C

Marco Asensio was one of the two players constantly rotating on the right flank and as time went on, it looked like Ancelotti trusted him more there. It was only a few weeks earlier that Asensio was a central midfielder with Ancelotti trying to shift the Spaniard more centrally as he believed that the player would be more useful there. He was when the team took on Real Mallorca but since then, he has had some very average performances mixed with brilliant goals off the right flank.

Rodrygo Goes – C

The other player rotating with Asensio on the right is Rodrygo Goes who has had a difficult season overall. He has what it takes to make that flank his own but unfortunately, it just doesn’t look like it’s working for him well. Ancelotti likes him and at one point, believed that the Brazilian is the starter on the wing but things did not play out that way.

Gareth Bale – N/A

With only 193 minutes played this season, Gareth Bale cannot be graded. The manager likes him but injuries (as usual) made things difficult for the Welshman who is expected to return in the new year.

Vinicius Junior – A+

What an incredible season for Vinicius Junior so far! The young Brazilian has been in sensational form during the campaign and is understandably untouchable on the left flank. Maybe it was a blessing that Kylian Mbappe did not join the club last summer as we may not have seen this version of Vinicius. He will only improve and we are all ready to witness his greatness.

Karim Benzema – A

With the absence of Marcelo for most games, Karim Benzema has been the captain on the pitch and he deserves this. The attacker has continued being a very important part of the team going forward and now that Vinicius has worked on his finishing, the duo have been brilliant together.

Luka Jovic – C

After finally getting a rare chance due to an injury to Benzema, Luka Jovic took it brilliantly with a goal and assist in his first game. He received continuity, gained some of Ancelotti’s trust and is ready to show that he can succeed at Real Madrid. It will be extremely interesting to see how the next few months play out.

Mariano Diaz – N/A

With only 107 minutes played this season, Mariano Diaz cannot be graded. He has had some moments in the team but unfortunately, he’s not good enough even though he offers speed going forward, Benzema and Jovic over a lot more in general.

Manager

Carlo Ancelotti – B+

Carlo Ancelotti has definitely exceeded expectations at Real Madrid this season and has the team playing at a high level. However, his lack of rotations however understandable could end up being his downfall during the second half of the campaign and only time will tell what he has in mind for when things get more complicated while juggling the league, Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.