Two attackers are certain to play if they are fit and available: Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior. They are indisputable, as they carry the White House at arm’s length with their success in front of goal. Carlo Ancelotti almost never deviates from his 4-3-3, which leaves only one possibility in the attacking trident: the right flank. In the big meetings of the Real Madrid season, whether in the Champions League or in La Liga, Ancelotti was divided between two choices for this lane: Rodrygo (Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Athletic Bilbao in the Super Cup) and Marco Asensio (Atlético Madrid, Sevilla FC, Barça in the Super Cup). In the case of the Brazilian, he is a youngster in post-training (21 years old), whose talent is obvious even if it is not reflected in the statistics (2 goals). The Spaniard is a player with status (two Champions League won), with a left-handed profile that appeals to the Italian tactician. A constant for these pivotal meetings: never Hazard at kick-off and a starving playing time of… nine minutes.
how his choices relegate Hazard to the background
45
