Real Madrid: 5 hits and flops of the season

Real Madrid have had a mixed season so far, they trail Barcelona by two points in La Liga but are facing an exit in the Champions League, after going down to Manchester City in the Round of 16 first leg by a 1-2 margin.  

Los Blancos did win the Spanish Supercup on penalties but they were knocked out by Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey. 

Players like Isco, Toni Kroos, and Marcelo have stepped up their game after a horrific showing last season. While others like Mariano and Gareth Bale haven’t been able to make any sort of noteworthy contributions to the cause. 

Here are five hits and flops from Real Madrid’s 2019-20 campaign. 

#5 Federico Valverde (Hit)

The Uruguayan has been a revelation this season. A homegrown player, who shows immense grit, desire and passion for the club with his on-field performances, Federico Valverde is the perfect box-to-box midfielder.

Zinedine Zidane chose to retain Valverde and send Dani Ceballos out on loan last summer, and the former has completely repaid his coach’s faith. 

From chopping down Alvaro Morata in the Spanish Supercup final to scoring his debut goal against Eibar, Valverde has had a season to remember. He has provided four assists as well, showcasing his playmaking abilities. 

The 21-year-old averages 0.9 shots and 0.7 key passes per game, having also completed 0.8 dribbles per game. 

Valverde has immense potential, and it looks like Real Madrid might have unearthed a rare gem.  

#4 Luka Jovic (Flop)

Luka Jovic arrived in Madrid with a reputation as one of the most lethal young strikers in Europe, but he’s struggled at the Bernabeu immensely. Strikers thrive on confidence, and Jovic has looked short on that, failing to fulfil on the initial promise. 

He’s been unlucky at times, partly due to the fact that Karim Benzema has been in the form of his life, and partly because of off-field issues. 

Jovic has scored just thrice across all competitions this season, a far cry from his tally of 27 goals that he racked up for Eintracht Frankfurt last campaign. 

The 21-year-old has been linked with an exit already, but if anything, Los Blancos would be wise to loan him out. With regular playing time under his belt, the striker can always come back and fight for his place in the Spanish capital. 

#3 Thibaut Courtois (Hit)

After a forgetful debut season, Thibaut Courtois is finally starting to look like the player who deservingly won the Golden Glove at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 

The 28-year-old custodian has managed to keep 15 clean sheets across all competitions this season, letting in just 26 goals. Real Madrid have conceded the fewest goals in La Liga, and Courtois deserves a lot of credit for that. 

The Belgian custodian has single-handedly won many matches through his stellar performances between the sticks, and it seems Real Madrid finally have a worthy successor to Keylor Navas. 

Courtois has his peak year ahead of him, and the Spanish giants will be counting on him to continue his superb streak when the season resumes. 

#2 James Rodriguez (Flop)

For the past few weeks, James Rodriguez has been consistently linked with a move away from Real Madrid, with the likes of Everton and Atletico Madrid interested in him. It’s fair to say that the Columbian playmaker’s move to Real Madrid won’t go down in history as a successful one. 

The 28-year-old has played just 13 matches this season, partly because of injuries, and partly because of his issues with Zinedine Zidane. 

Previously, Rodriguez was on loan at Bayern Munich, but he wasn’t that impressive, and so the Bavarian decided not to make his move permanent.

He arrived in Madrid ahead of this season, looking to find his way into the first team but things just haven’t worked out. The midfielder has a lot of potential, and it would be better if the Colombian decides to part ways with Real Madrid. 

#1 Karim Benzema (Hit)

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Karim Benzema has been the only Real Madrid player since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure who has been consistently delivering the goods. 

Real Madrid’s No.9 has made 36 appearances this term, scoring 19 goals, while also dishing out nine assists. The Frenchman averages 3.7 shots and 1.8 key passes per game despite being a striker. 

It’s just the way Benzema plays – he’s a selfless forward, who drops deep to link up play, and contribute in the team’s overall build-up. 

The 32-year-old is Real Madrid’s leading goalscorer this term, and he will be key to their title credentials in both La Liga and the Champions League. 

All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.com