A few of the biggest problems in the Real Madrid squad were exposed by Real Betis in a difficult-to-swallow 2-1 loss at the Benito Villamarin that came on the heels of two strong displays against Spanish competition in Girona and Real Sociedad.
As we pick apart the wreckage of the road defeat in LaLiga, the most frustrating aspect of the loss is the fact that we have to talk about one specific issue again - and we've been dissecting this problem ad nauseam for, really, the past five years.
Real Madrid simply need to invest in full-backs
Real Madrid need more depth and quality at both full-back positions. They've won two Champions League titles with sub-optimal situations at left and right back, largely owing to the fact that Dani Carvajal is so incredible at stepping up when he is needed the most and has defied age by changing his routine and diet.
The depth behind him at right back is non-existent, with Lucas Vazquez continuing to flounder in a role that doesn't suit him, even as he is admirably trying his best at the position. Aside from Fede Valverde spot-starting there, the other options, such as moving Raul Asencio from central defense, are even worse.
And then the left back position is somehow an even bigger disaster with Ferland Mendy declining by the season and Fran Garcia looking less like a Real Madrid starter and more like a ventriloquist dummy on roller skates whenever he's tasked with defending any above-average winger one-on-one.
Real Madrid were thoroughly lacking against Real Betis, and while a lot of that has to do with the injuries in midifeld, a large part of the blame goes to the fullbacks. Without as much dominance centrally, Real could have compensated out wide with more progression and more chances funneling wide to the wingers, but Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior were so starved for service and pinned back because the fullbacks were getting trapped in the corners.
Vazquez tried his best but simply didn't have the quality to take on such a burden on both ends of the pitch, because, well, he's not a real fullback. Mendy was truly abysmal, because although he was credited with an assist (that was almost all Kylian Mbappe's work), everything else he did offensively was poor. Mendy could not move the ball and was too scared to do anything but pass sideways five yards while making a minimal defensive impact to offset his offensive ineptitude.
For Madridistas, this scene is a tale as old as time. The fullbacks tread water defensively, can't move the ball out of second gear unless the midfield holds their hand, and then the wingers are exhausted doing the work of two players. At least, in comparison to Mendy, Fran will drive the ball up the pitch, but his individual quality is so underwhelming, it's clear he's not a cut above the opposition like a Real Madrid player should be.
Until Real Madrid fix the issue of top-end quality and depth at left back and depth at right back, this is going to continue to be an issue year after year with only a healthy Carvajal - something Real do not have right now - keeping the Merengues afloat at fullback.