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It's the UEFA Super Cup fixture between Champions League Winners Real Madrid and Europa League Winners Atletico Madrid. The Madrid Derby is always a fierce encounter, but stakes are even higher this time as winning this match would mean grabbing a major title early on and gaining momentum for the rest of the season.
As soon as the first whistle is blown, the match bursts into life. The energy levels look positive for what is expected to be an all-out slugfest between the two rivals. The first-half demonstrates a high level of competition as both the sides score a goal to keep the match in the balance. Real's dysfunctional defence and scintillating attack means the score at half-time is 1-1.
The second-half begins with the same vigour shown in the first 45 minutes, and soon after the hour-mark, Real take the lead. It is El Capitano Sergio Ramos, who scores from the spot, to complete the comeback. Real lead Atletico, 2-1.
Substitutions take place for both the teams; Los Blancos' famed 'Plan B' is in execution. However, this time, their bench is significantly weaker than in past seasons. This fact resurfaces in the match as Real concede their lead in the final 15 minutes and the disaster is completed after Atletico nudge in two more goals in extra-time to seal the win.
So, where did it all go wrong for Real Madrid's 'B Team'? When did their bench become so ineffective? Let's look at the 5 key departures that led to the demise of the 'Plan B'.
#5 Danilo
Danilo was sold to Manchester City last summer after Zinedine Zidane decided the Brazilian was surplus to his needs. The former Real Madrid manager trusted youth graduate Achraf Hakimi and the versatile Lucas Vazquez to cover for Dani Carvajal in the right-back position, for the new campaign.
But as the 2017-18 season progressed, the dynamism Danilo brought from the bench began to be dearly missed. The young, inexperienced Hakimi couldn't live up to first-team expectations whereas Vazquez was never really a direct solution to the right-back position but a last resort option.
The impact Danilo created as the deputy right-back was never truly replicated by the likes of Hakimi, Nacho, or Vazquez. His offensive style, eye for goal, and occasional runs into the box proved irreplaceable for Real Madrid last season as they suffered on the right side of the field whenever Carvajal was injured or rested.
#4 Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic's exit may be too recent to gauge the impact of, but, however, it is no doubt that he has left a big midfield hole in his wake. Although sparingly used last season, he was still instrumental in matches where one of Modric and Kroos was rested.
The Croatian showed his true brilliance in the 2017 Spanish Super Cup matches against FC Barcelona, where he looked calm, composed, and manipulative on the ball. His dribbles and pressing were the prominent features in his best displays for Real Madrid.
The Croatian Dynamo's loan move to Chelsea has left the reigning European Champions with a lack of depth in midfield this season. The only remaining cover for Kroos and Modric are Isco, who is more likely to often assume the left-winger's role, and Ceballos, whom fans are hoping to see step up to the challenge after a tough debut season.
#3 Pepe
Throughout his Real Madrid career, Pepe was an important figure in the team. He acted as a steady beacon of fearless and determined defending, tackling and bullying the opposition into relinquishing possession of the ball.
The Portuguese defender carried a much-needed veteran's instinct, which influenced the team to defend better, even in precarious situations. The defensive lapses in Real's game, whenever he was rested by Zidane, were noticeable throughout the 2016-17 season (Pepe's final season with Real Madrid), although the late match-winning goals covered much of the defence's shortcomings.
Despite all the talent Ramos's new partner, Varane, possesses, he doesn't quite have the defensive alertness and shrewdness that Pepe showed time and again. The maxim, 'there is no substitute for experience', is very applicable here.
Perhaps, the most annoying fact about Pepe's departure is that the former Porto man was sold to Besiktas within a year of his Euro Cup winning heroics for Portugal. His performances for the Portuguese National Team exhibit that the dogged persistence, with which he troubles the strikers, has not faded in the twilight years of his career.
#2 James Rodriguez
The relationship between James Rodriguez and Real Madrid didn't fulfill the promise it showed in the Colombian's debut season at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
In his first season, James commandeered the attacking play of Los Galacticos, creating chances from nothing, weaving intricate passes through defences, and supplying pin-point crosses from wide. The BBC trident thrived on the gifted attacking midfielder's vision, passing, and playmaking abilities, as Real Madrid transformed into the one of the most dangerous attacks in the world.
However, the sacking of 'La Decima'-winning coach Carlo Ancelotti, in 2015, proved detrimental for James's growth. He never quite settled well under Rafa Benitez, and Zinedine Zidane never trusted him enough to be a regular substitute, let alone, an undisputed starter in the team.
The preference of a holding player in the midfield trio instead of an attacking player, coupled with the rise of Isco---a fellow attacking midfielder struggling for minutes himself, made clear that James had no choice but to leave to get more playtime and avoid stunting his development.
Since the Golden Boy's move to Bayern Munich in 2017, Real Madrid haven't quite had attacking options of the same quality, to call upon, from the bench.
#1 Alvaro Morata
Out of all the departures, this is, possibly, the most unjustified because of how good Alvaro Morata played on his return to Real Madrid in 2016. The victim of a buy-back clause execution, he came back to his boyhood club in search of glory, and he would've achieved his deserved starting place had it not been Zidane's blind trust in misfiring Karim Benzema.
The Spaniard scored important goals for Real Madrid at crucial points in the season, but Zidane was adamant in his decision to start the Frenchman regardless of all the stats. This controversial choice was linked to the need of a striker who drops back often, which was more characteristic of Benzema than Morata.
On the back of a string of strong showings from the bench, the Spain international took confidence in his ability and left for England last summer, to play as the main striker at Chelsea.
Morata had his reason to leave but we can't say the same about Zidane's reason to let him go as Real, unsurprisingly, now suffer from a dearth of good substitute strikers. The only central striker option, in absence of Benzema, is Borja Mayoral---a player not on par with his predecessor.
