Real Madrid loanee watch: Ceballos, Odegaard, Zidane...
This weekend brought varied fortunes for the nine Real Madrid players plying their trade out on loan this season.
It was a mixed weekend for the nine Real Madrid players who have been loaned out for the 2019/20 season. While Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard and Sergio Reguilón all shone, the likes of Óscar Rodríguez and Borja Mayoral enjoyed less success.
Having sent them out on loan to increase their game time, a particular positive for Madrid was that six of the nine were starters. Of the other three, meanwhile, Jesús Vallejo and Andriy Lunin are still adapting to their new surroundings, while Achraf Hakimi is returning from injury at Borussia Dortmund. That they were substitutes should, for now, offer little cause for concern.
Dani Ceballos, 23:
Ceballos' full debut for Arsenal could not have gone much better: the midfielder delivered a man-of-the-match display for the Gunners as they defeated Burnley 2-1 at the Emirates to make it two wins from two so far in the Premier League.
Ceballos provided two assists, made 63 successful passes with a 90% accuracy rate, completed four dribbles out of four and won the ball back six times. It was a first start that underlined why Arsenal coach Unai Emery was so eager to sign him.
Martin Odegaard, 20:
Odegaard enjoyed a highly positive competitive bow for Real Sociedad, playing the full 90 minutes at Mestalla as the Basques earned a 1-1 opening-weekend draw with Valencia in LaLiga. The Norwegian attempted (57) and completed (51) more passes than anyone else in the Spanish top flight on matchday one.
Sergio Reguilón, 22:
Reguilón has gone straight into the XI at Sevilla, and on Sunday fully justified the faith that the club's new boss, Julen Lopetegui, has in him. He it was who opened the scoring as the Andalusians began their LaLiga campaign with a 2-0 victory at Espanyol, with the left-back particularly impressive in the first 45, constantly getting himself into dangerous crossing positions. Having performed so well for Madrid last term, Reguilón has started this season in the same vein.
Borja Mayoral, 22:
On a positive note, Mayoral has begun the season as Levante's starting centre-forward, and featured for the full 90 minutes against Deportivo Alavés on Sunday. However, he had little joy in front of goal as El Glorioso's solid defence starved him of chances in a 1-0 defeat at Mendizorroza.
Achraf Hakimi, 20:
Achraf is still returning to form after missing the final months of last season through injury. The Morocco international has been on the bench for all three of Dortmund's competitive games this season, the latest of which saw Lucien Favre's men thump Augsburg 5-1 in their first Bundesliga outing of the new campaign. The full-back was brought on for the last 22 mintues, and is expected to regain his place in the side once he hits his stride again.
Óscar Rodríguez, 21:
Rodríguez endured an unhappy beginning to his second season on loan at Leganés, seeing red for a poor late challenge as Los Pepineros lost at home to Osasuna in week one of the LaLiga campaign. Although it was not a positive start to 2019/20 for the attacking midfielder, he does seem to remain a nailed-on starter at Butarque.
Luca Zidane, 21:
Goalkeeper Zidane started between the sticks in what was Racing Santander's return to Segunda División, but could not prevent the Cantabrians from going down 1-0 at home to Málaga. The 21-year-old could do little about Adrián González's late winner for Los Boquerones, although he did show his shot-stopping abilities with a fine save just after the hour mark.
Andriy Lunin, 20:
Lunin was a substitute as Real Valladolid came away victorious from their tough opening-weekend trip to face Real Betis. Having not got much of a look-in on loan at Leganés last term, Madrid are hopeful that the Ukrainian keeper will enjoy more playing time this year; however, he appears to have a difficult task on his hands to displace current number one Jordi Masip.
Jesús Vallejo, 22:
Vallejo is still getting used to life in Wolverhampton, and wasn't even in the squad for Wolves' 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United at Molineux on Monday. The defender was given his first run-out for the Midlanders four days earlier, though, playing the full 90 and helping his side to keep a clean sheet in a 4-0 Europa League qualifying win over Pyunik.