Clásico win gives Real Madrid squad some breathing space
A defeat against Barça would have prompted calls for an overhaul of the squad for the forthcoming season with seven players past the age of 30.
Sunday's El Clásico win offered the sporting directors at Real Madrid some breathing space after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Levante in LaLiga and Manchester City in the Champions League had alarm bells sounding. Twelve games remain in the domestic campaign and should Barcelona have emerged victorious at the Bernabéu on Sunday, a hat trick of key defeats would have led calls for a major overhaul to the squad with seven players over the age of 30 coupled with a raft of inexperienced youngsters.
Luka Modric is 34, Ramos (33), Benzema (32), Marcelo (31) whilst Bale, Kroos and Nacho are all 30-years-old. On the flip-side, the first team squad also boasts a strong showing of young, but still relatively inexperienced individuals with the club having invested heavily in emerging talent. Vinicius cost 45 million euro moving from Flamengo and is still just 19-years-old, Rodrygo (40 million, age 19), Reinier (30 million, 18), Brahim (20 million , 20-years-old), (Jovic 60 million, age 21) and Kubo, 18 years-old and moved to the club on a free transfer. Another trophy-less season would have complicated their transition and would have seen added pressure mount on these young players and indeed on the football club and it's recruitment policy.
Favourable fixture list
Sunday's win, sees Real Madrid emerge as favourites to win the 2019-20 LaLiga title with 12 games left to play and with Zidane's side (at least on paper), having a better run of fixtures in the remaining months of the campaign.
The club's immediate priorities as the end of the season looms on the horizon is centred on the redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and securing the services of French striker Kylian Mbappé during the summer of 2020. The PSG striker is expected to command a fee of 200 million euro and these outlays are expected to see the club tighten the belt when it comes to fresh acquisitions.