Manager Zinedine Zidane has guided the club through a largely successful preseason campaign, barring the blemish of a 3-1 loss at the hands of Paris St. Germain. With most of the transfer window now gone by, most teams in Europe are wearing a settled look. Real Madrid are no exception, and Zidane will do his very best to maintain his record of just 2 losses in half a season as Real manager.
The best formation for Real Madrid in the current season would be the same as the one with which they won the Champions League last season: a 4-3-3 with one holding midfielder, as it allows them to tactically make use of their best talents in their best positions.
As they are yet to make any major signings this summer, their best XI will not be much different from the one that turned out for them last season. It would also be a signal of continuity from something that they got right last year, and a sign of the scheme of play in the years to come.
Goalkeeper
Keylor Navas
He has been in brilliant form for Real Madrid in the past season. Reclaiming the no. 1 spot in the Real Madrid pecking order has done a world of good to his confidence, as he proceeded to show the club faithful how good he really is in the season past.
The failure of the swap deal involving him and de Gea has proved to be a blessing in disguise for the club, as they found a world-class goalkeeper within their own ranks without having to pay the extra bucks for de Gea’s Spanish connect and selling power.
Navas’ internal competition is with Kiko Casilla, and despite Casilla impressing in the short time that the tall Spaniard got in the previous season, Navas operates at a higher level and it is easy for most fans to see. Navas is here to stay and create a legacy of his own at the Bernabeu.
Defenders
Right-back: Dani Carvajal
He faced tough competition last season from Danilo, who was evidently favoured by the club management on account of being one of the club’s marquee signings of the summer.
While the Brazilian has his own merits in terms of pure pace and crossing ability in the final third, Carvajal is a more robust fullback who takes foremost care of his defensive duties despite hardly being the retreating kind in attack (as Arbeloa once used to be).
Carvajal is among the most well-rounded fullbacks in the world, and it would be foolhardy for Zidane not to make use of his talents in high volume. If at all he needed a reminder of the academy product’s talents, he got one in the UEFA Super Cup Final, in which Carvajal left a number of bodies in his wake before finishing past Rico in Sevilla’s goal with one of the greatest goals in European finals.
Centre-back: Sergio Ramos
Captain Fantastic served football fans a look at both sides of his game in the Super Cup final, as he conceded the penalty that allowed Sevilla to take the lead after around the 70-minute mark. He then turned up at the right place in right time during stoppage time to score Real’s second and force extra time.
He has begun this season in good nick, and apart from the needless challenge that gave Sevilla the penalty, took care of business in typical fashion. Although he needs to curb his adventurous streak a little, he still looks the part as Real’s leader from the back. Athe age of 30, he has a couple of years more at the top level.
Centre-back: Pepe
The Brazilian-born journeyman, who initially joined Porto before finally moving to Real Madrid in 2007, has proved himself to be one of the best investments for the club in recent memory.
Even at the age of 33, when footballers start losing a yard or two of pace, he looked completely up to the challenge in the Euros this summer as he became Portugal’s pillar at the back, playing a pivotal role in their toughest games against Croatia and France and keeping their strikers goalless.
Varane’s drop in form gave Pepe a way back into the team in the middle of last season, and ever since, he has not allowed Varane any leeway by the way of defensive errors and card trouble. In fact, Pepe has learned to largely curb his instincts and very rarely does he get carded in the average Liga or Cup game.
Left-back: Marcelo
One has to be a brave man to leave out this man. For a number of years now, Marcelo has been the most consistently brilliant left-back of the world. Marcelo was always a wonderfully innovative and technically skilled dribbler and an asset in the attack in general.
But he has matured into a potent machine patrolling Real’s left flank at all times, helping out the defence with acrobatic clearances and masterful interventions to break up opposition attacks.
While his main competitor, Fabio Coentrao, is making a comeback to the club this season, he does not look close to his best and should present little threat to incumbent Marcelo.
Midfielders
Defensive Midfield: Casemiro
After the departure of Rafa Benitez from the club, Casemiro emerged as Real Madrid’s lynchpin in defense, as he was fielded in most matches by Zidane despite being under pressure to consistently field technically superior players like James or Isco.
Casemiro’s loan spell at Porto helped him to understand the role of the European defensive midfielder better. Right now, he is one of the very best in the business at occupying the right spaces, marking out strikers and shutting out opponent midfielders from making passes through central midfield.
Unless Zidane opts to attack opponents from the get-go, Casemiro will now be featuring in most of Real’s league games, as he looks set to stay at the club for years to come.
Central Midfield: Luka Modric
Despite being just a month short of his 31st birthday, Modric has shown no signs of slowdown whatsoever. He announced himself in the Euros this summer with a peach of a volley that helped Croatia past Turkey, and his substitute appearance against Sevilla helped Real Madrid balance their midfield a whole lot better than when Isco was on the field.
Modric has gotten the hang of his role in Zidane’s playing XI, and has been an indispensable member of the squad ever since the departure of Ozil from the club. He is one of those who can create openings in opposition defenses at any time of the match. Modric has to start every important game this season, despite the presence of competitors like Isco, James and Kovacic.
Central Midfield: Toni Kroos
Where the presence of Modric lends Real a cutting edge in the final third and during counterattacks, Kroos provides them with the best possible option as a long-passer, ball circulator and long-distance shooter stationed a little further from goal.
While Kroos is not as adept as Modric at playing the cute pass or dribbling past defenders, he is a well-rounded player with the most complete skillset of any Real midfielder, and he has embraced his central midfield role with great relish.
Aged only 26, he should be good for a few more years to start as Real’s midfielder-in-chief. His absence from the starting XI would be as glaring as that of anyone. He lends a comprehensive skillset to the team that cannot be missed out on.
Forwards
Left Winger/Auxilliary Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo
It would be a waste of space to describe why the most lethal player of the world HAS to play every minute that he can for the club. 364 goals in 348 appearances over 7 seasons, of which 51 came in the previous season, make it apparent that this is a player who can make the difference at any moment in time of a game.
Unless Real are rotating their squad for an inconsequential La Liga or Copa game, there is no way that Ronaldo does not make the XI when fit.
Right Winger/Attacking Midfielder: Gareth Bale
While he was roundly criticized for playing at a below-par level in his second season in Madrid, Bale bounced back last season from a number of injuries to score 19 goals in 30 appearances last season. Though he missed large swathes of the season on account of injury, he never took too long to bounce back straight into top form.
In a number of league and Champions League games, he proved to be an essential member of the team and held his own at crucial moments
There is a reason that Bale was, till last week, the most expensive player in the world, and continues to command fear on the same lines from opposition defenders. With the departure of Jese from the club, now there is no substitute for Bale’s raw pace and acceleration.
Striker: Alvaro Morata/Karim Benzema
This is a stretch, to say the least, but Karim Benzema did not look very sharp in the Super Cup after coming on for Alvaro Morata. Benzema is better suited to playing with his back to defenders, but Morata is the stronger specimen and a faster dribbler, with great presence of mind and an appetite for goals that has been whetted in 2 seasons spent in the goal-hungry Serie A.
He has polished his finishing, and he is now better at finishing off chances. Morata is also aged just 23 now, and unless Real have plans to sell him for a steep profit, he looks to have come back to Madrid for good. Zidane should begin to give both him and Benzema the same treatment.
This would encourage a healthy rivalry between the seasoned, classy Benzema and the sharp, lively Morata, much like the times of Higuain and Benzema.
