Asensio struggles to find form despite Zidane's confidence
Marco Asensio continues his battle to find form after returning from injury and was substituted in the home defeat to Alavés at the weekend in another game with no goals or assists.
Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio continues his fight to find form after returning from a long-term knee injury earlier this year. Benched in the home defeat to Alavés on Saturday without contributing much in the hour he had on the pitch means Asensio has not participated in a single goal since the last day of last season.
On his return after a year of rehab and recovery following the injury, Asensio only needed 29 seconds to score a goal. It was June 18, 2020, against Valencia. On Saturday, he failed to produce against Alavés, passing up another opportunity to establish himself firmly in Zidane's attack. He was replaced in the 63rd minute with the face of a player frustrated with his own performances.
Physically he is in good shape, regaining match fitness in his right wing role, however he is struggling to find form. Zidane is a big fan of the 24-year-old and has offered him regular starts in the 2020-21 campaign despite his slump in form, not participating in a Madrid goal, scoring or assisting since the final day of last season.
Since that 2-2 draw against Leganés on July 19, in which Asensio put Madrid in the lead at Butarque, four months and 12 games have passed since the left-footed forward has participated in a goal. In eight of those matches (Alavés, Inter, Villarreal, Huesca, Levante, Barcelona, Cádiz and Valladolid) he failed to have a single shot on goal.
No injuries behind dip in form
AS understands that there has been no discomfort in his knee since returning for Los Blancos. "I feel very good, I have worked hard to recover to full fitness," Asensio admitted last month.
When it comes to the Spain national team, Asensio has been in and out of head coach Luis Enrique's plans. Due to injuries picked up in Eden Hazard's neverending luckless run, Asensio will be given more chances to kickstart his season at Valdebebas. Zidane will be looking for the former Mallorca star to add goals and assists to his game before Christmas, with key fixtures against Sevilla and Atlético Madrid in the derby coming up.