Asensio dominated the midfield. It was visible that the attacking line was carrying Real Madrid in important moments.
Challenge against Rodrygo
Marco Asensio is ready to do battle. He could have thrown in the towel when Rodrygo Goes looked to oust him from the Real Madrid XI, with his importance at the club appearing to reduce by the week. Not even a hat-trick against Real Mallorca could help Asensio re-establish himself in Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice XI, but now he is finding a way to make himself undroppable. The Spaniard is showing the steel he has in his character, and he offered another example of that in Sunday’s derby against Atletico Madrid.
Starting against Atletico Madrid
Asensio was the novelty in Ancelotti’s starting line-up to face Atletico Madrid, and he responded to the faith placed in him in the best way possible. For the opening goal it was Asensio who spotted Vinicius Junior’s movement, played the ball to the Brazilian and watched on as he, in turn, teed up Karim Benzema for a sumptuous finish. He then scored the second himself, finishing on the end of a Vinicius cross. With that second-half strike, Asensio took his tally of goals this season to six, making him Real Madrid’s third-highest goalscorer this season after Benzema’s 18 and Vinicius’ 12. As well as that, he has now scored in back-to-back matches after netting against Inter in midweek. His best-ever scoring season for the club saw him hit 11 in 2017/18, and he’ll be aiming to better that this term. But even beyond the goals the feeling around Asensio is improving. He showed a lot of energy against Atletico that will give Ancelotti a reason to believe he should stay in the XI. Luis Enrique, too, would have been watching on with a smile on Sunday, as Asensio is a player that the Spain boss has always liked.