REAL MADRID
Lucas Vázquez: from forgotten man to key cog in the machine
The youth team graduate grasped his chance once again in yesterday's game at Rayo. He replaced Benzeman on 41 minutes, scored the equaliser and recovered eight balls.
Lucas Vázquez was given a new opportunity in yesterday's game at Rayo Vallecano and like on other occasions, he seized it with both hands. He entered the game on 41 minutes, replacing Karim Benzema and his contribution radically changed Madrid's fortunes. The 24-year-old is squeezing the most out of every opportunity he is given and showing that he is ready to take on an important role just as the season enters its decisive stage.
He spent most of the match hugging the left wing, and linked up well with Marcelo; he also scored a superb equaliser, heading in Danilo's cross with his sole attempt on goal. It was his third league goal in his last four outings (he found the net against Eibar and Villarreal).
And once again, he complimented his attacking duties by helping out the team by tracking back to defend when Madrid were on the back foot. Against Rayo, he was the second player, after Toni Kroos to win back the most balls (eight in 49 minutes, compared to Kroos' nine).
It has been anything but easy for Lucas Vázquez to convince Zidane of his worth. It's been a struggle for him to carve out a plave in the side and he had to wait patiently for four games before he was given his first run-out under the French coach (he came on for the last 15 minutes against Espanyol in Week 22). Since then, he has gradually gained more prominence in Zidane's set-up: he's participated in 13 of the team's 18 games since the Espanyol game, and featured in the starting line-up five times.
Zidane now has the task of keeping his most influential players fully fit for the remaining three league games and both legs of the Champions League semi-final. All members of the 'BBC' have suffered physical problems in recent weeks (Bale against Getafe, Cristiano against Villarreal and Benzema against Rayo), but the coach has a handy deputy who can come in to give the others a chance to rest; Lucas Vázquez is an alternative on either wing for Zidane he will be the first choice when reshuffling his attack.