Marco Asensio can't be dropped for Real Madrid now and other things learned from Real Betis win

Andy West 08:50 19/02/2018
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  • Real Madrid staged a storming second-half comeback to beat Real Betis 5-3 in an eight-goal La Liga thriller.

    Marco Asensio (2), Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were on target as the Spanish champions recovered from a 2-1 interval deficit to avenge their Bernabeu defeat to Betis in September.

    Aissa Mandi and a Nacho own goal saw Betis’ first-half superiority rewarded, before Sergio Leon gave the hosts late hope until substitute Benzema struck in stoppage time.

    Here, we look at three things we learned from the encounter.

    ASENSIO TAKES HIS CHANCE

    After a highly impressive cameo from the bench against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Marco Asensio earned himself a starting berth for this game – only his second in the league in two months – and more than justified that decision with a man of the match two-goal display.

    With Karim Benzema finally dropped to the bench after months of under-performance, Asensio’s action-packed outing, which saw him start on the left wing but frequently maraud inside, appeared to have settled the debate over the front line. But then Benzema came off the bench to score a well-taken late goal and further muddy Zidane’s selection waters, especially as Gareth Bale delivered another poor performance.

    Of course, the team line-up will also depend upon which formation the Frenchman employs and it was interesting to see him go with a 4-4-2 including a flat midfield for this game.

    But Asensio cannot be dropped now, and he must go alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the two definite starters in the forward line. After that, Bale, Benzema, Isco and Lucas Vazquez all offer different qualities but none are in great form so Asensio, surely, has finally earned a secured starting role. Hasn’t he?

    Marco Asensio

    Marco Asensio

    ARE YOU WATCHING, PSG?

    Just four days after their disjointed efforts to prove themselves worthy as being regarded among the best teams in Europe, PSG could have done a lot worse than sitting down to watch how Real Betis set about the task of taking on Real Madrid in the first half.

    Despite possessing a fraction of the natural talent within the French team’s ranks, Betis set about their task with poise and purpose, especially during a glorious 20-minute period at the end of the first half which yielded their first two goals.

    Even though they had suffered the blow of falling a goal behind, Quique Setien’s team kept their composure to retain possession with wonderful composure, stringing together several one-touch passing moves to probe for openings and always seeming to have multiple passing options – unlike PSG’s individualists, who too often wanted to do everything by themselves.

    Also unlike PSG, Betis showed a positive intent and determination to win the game rather than sitting back nervously, and their first half display in particular further strengthens their reputation as one of the most watchable teams in football – and Setien’s as the purist’s coach.

    Real Betis

    Real Betis

    MARCELO BLOW GIVES THEO CHANCE?

    There was great cause for concern for Zidane midway through the first half when Marcelo pulled his hamstring, and was forced to retire to the bench – putting in serious doubt his availability for the second leg of the Champions League meeting with PSG on 6 March.

    The Brazilian left-back has largely been well below his best this season but came back to top form in the first leg of the PSG tie, rounding off an excellent display with the final goal in the dying stages.

    Now, though, his absence should give Theo Hernandez a belated opportunity to demonstrate his worth. The summer signing from Atletico Madrid has been hardly used by Zidane this season, starting just three league games so far. He has been out of his depth on his rare outings, looking a shadow of the player who excelled during last season’s loan spell at Alaves, but he was steady for the final hour on this occasion and the next few weeks could be his big chance to prove he belongs at this level.

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