REAL SOCIEDAD - REAL MADRID
Real Madrid: Asensio set for league debut for Los Blancos
Marco Asensio is in line for his first LaLiga appearance for Real at Anoeta on Sunday night - though we'll have to see if it's from the start.
Marco Asensio has without doubt been the summer revelation at Real Madrid. That stunning strike against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup and his sparkling US tour have made the 20-year-old Spain cap the major 'signing' of the pre-season period.
LaLiga bow at Real Sociedad tonight
Indeed, Real officially unveiled him at the Bernabéu on Tuesday in an event with bells and whistles on it. His tears as he recalled his late mother, who died when he was 15 years old, captured the hearts of a support who are falling in love with a youngster who promises so much...and is backing that up with his on-field exploits.
Today he'll make his LaLiga debut for the club, though it's not yet clear whether that'll be from the start or whether he'll be given his chance coming off the bench. It'll be between him and Lucas Vázquez for a spot in the line-up at Anoeta.
He has Zidane's backing
Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane, the man chiefly responsible for ensuring he remained at Los Blancos this term and did not return to Espanyol, had plenty of praise for the starlet in his pre-match press conference on Saturday: "He’s an important player. I’m happy with him and how he’s doing, for his goal [in the Super Cup] and his game in general. We’ll see [whether he starts]. We have a lot of players and everyone will get to play."
Asensio got the nod against Sevilla in Trondheim and in the Trofeo Bernabéu at home to Stade de Reims, and his number 20 shirt is already among the most sought-after at Real Madrid's club shop. Yes sir, he's most certainly got his Real career off on the right foot: that sweet left that's dazzled his boss so...