Bale's return sees Brahim lose his place
The return of Real Madrid’s Welsh forward sees the new signing without a place in the squad. He'll watch the Real Madrid - Espanyol match from the stands.
Brahim Díaz will watch the Espanyol vs Real Madrid game from the stands of Cornellà-El Prat. The new signing, who came in at the start of the winter transfer window from Manchester City, travelled to Barcelona as one of the 20 players called up by Solari, but in the end didn’t get a a place in the 18 man squad.
Real Madrid's injuries opened the door for Brahim
The injuries that have ravaged Real Madrid recently had allowed Brahim to take a place in the squads since he joined, and play in three matches: 12’ against Leganés, 8’ against Betis and 4’ also against Leganés, but with the return of bigger names he’s missed out.
Brahim joined from City having only played four games in the first half of the season, and had failed to make the line-up for any of Guardiola’s teams.
Bale back in for Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s final squad features Marcos Llorente, Kroos and Bale three of the injured players who had been out in January, with Bale the last one to return, and who has in effect taken the place Brahim was occupying.
It has to be remembered that Brahim is still only 19 and is out of form given how little he’s played for Manchester City this season. Solari and Real Madrid understand that he’s an asset for the future and needs to grow little by little into the team, just as Vinicius has done, to eventually become a starter.
