Most of Real Madrid’s players were rock solid in their win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday night, but there was one player sticking out like a sore thumb.
Alvaro Carreras, despite playing really well against Espanyol and starting the match against Real Sociedad quite well, had an absolutely shocking moment where he marked the wrong player during a counter-attack for Real Sociedad, which resulted in his team conceding a goal that was so obviously avoidable.
After the first half, Carreras was the first player to get subbed off for either team, and it made sense. He quickly went from a solid showing to being the worst player on the pitch for the team, and this is unfortunately something that has happened far too often during his time at Real Madrid.
He started the first half of last season really well, but then had an abysmal showing against Atletico Madrid. Then Carreras slowly recovered, only to have another bad second half against Barcelona and derailing from there. After that, he managed to get a starting spot against Bayern Munich, and his dismal performance meant he never really got that much game time under Alvaro Arbeloa after the first leg at the Bernabeu.
This has been the story for the left-back, which is why Marc Cucurella, after just one half of football, showed how big of an upgrade he actually is on his Spanish counterpart.
Cucurella looked better defensively as well as going forward on the overlaps than Carreras. With him on that side, the team looks more defensively stable and solid, and in control, despite Carreras also being a good player in all those facets.
Alvaro Carreras could have made this position his own last season
It is obviously difficult for Carreras at the moment – I do sympathise with him a little bit. After joining the club for 50 million euros, Carreras would not have expected to then battle with one of the very best left-backs in world football in Cucurella just one season later.
However, it is a situation he has brought upon himself, as Real Madrid would have seen no reason to replace him had he kept his level up all season.
He is definitely still good for a back-up, but he will probably never start over Cucurella ever again, if both are fit and available. Cucurella is just a huge upgrade on the former Benfica player, and even though I’m sure he will try his hardest to battle with the new signing for a spot in the lineup, he will likely not prevail.
As Cucurella was building match fitness, this was the best chance for Carreras to show that he is good enough to consistently fight with the best in the world in his position for a spot in the starting XI of the best team in the world, but after just two matches, the fight has died down a bit.
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