Real Madrid: Three burning questions after the Madrid derby win

3. Is a backup striker still required at Real Madrid?

Since last season’s humbling El Clasico, the necessity for a solid backup striker had grown increasingly evident, and worries about this were highlighted throughout the transfer window. Real Madrid, on the other hand, did not go out and recruit any forwards, believing that the squad was already adequate and competitive in every position.

However, just a few weeks after being harshly reprimanded for failing to recruit an additional striker, the club’s stance has once again shown to be accurate.

Karim Benzema’s start to the 2022-23 season has been rocky, as he just suffered an injury. The silver lining of Benzema’s injury has been productive for the youngsters, particularly Rodrygo, who has adopted the position of the injured Frenchman and has performed admirably!

Rodrygo is having his greatest season with Real Madrid, scoring and assisting in practically every game since Benzema’s injury. The player appears more at ease in the centre of the field than on either flank, and his connection with Vinicius and Fede Valverde on both sides is very neat.

Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of his abilities is how, at this age, he has such excellent control over his first touch and finishing. It is rare to see Rodrygo fumble a pass or attempt a wide shot off the target; his accuracy is unparalleled and will only improve with time.

There is, in our opinion, no greater contender for this post than Rodrygo. His attributes are exactly what a striker has to have in order to score a fair number of goals, and he has entirely removed the necessity for a backup striker at Real Madrid.