Real Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad had quite a few brilliant performers, even if they did not get the credit that others got. One of those players was Bernardo Silva, who quietly put in a great shift in the double pivot alongside Fede Valverde.
Silva was a great presence in the middle of the park for Real Madrid, and he did a lot of things that no one was doing for a couple of years in this Real Madrid midfield. He constantly moved around and made himself available for the passer. He kept scanning the pitch to see where best to distribute the ball. Silva looked really, really good in the middle of the park without even doing outlandish stuff.
It is the basics of football. Not being afraid of the ball. Wanting to keep the ball for long stretches to establish control. Consistently being able to change positions so that the team’s ball progression is more fluid. These things matter a lot on a football pitch, and for a long time, Real Madrid were struggling without it.
Bernardo Silva is a breath of fresh air in Real Madrid's midfield
With Bernardo now, they finally have an outlet they can pass the ball to. You would see him next to Dean Huijsen sometimes. On other occasions, he would be standing close to Fede Valverde, waiting for the ball with ample space around him. Sometimes, he would be the team’s left-back or right-back. These things are just so good to watch, and he is quickly becoming the glue that keeps this team together.
It has only been two games, and Silva has not registered a goal or assist, but he does not need to. He no longer has to play as an attacking midfielder or winger like he used to back in his early Manchester City days, or when he used to play alongside Kylian Mbappe at Monaco.
Now, he can simply be part of a double pivot, work incredibly hard without the ball and try to win it, and then when it is with him, work smartly so that he does not lose it.
Silva’s agility and brilliant balance remind people of Luka Modric, and it is a profile that Real Madrid have missed. He is not a Rodri, but Real Madrid still needed his services to finally close out some of the gaping holes of this team.
It will be exciting to see how the team continues to flourish with Silva in the middle of the park, especially as he starts taking even more responsibility than he already has.
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