Marco Asensio Showing How He Can Play a Big Part in Real Madrid's 2016-17 Season
Real Madrid began their 2016-17 season the way they finished 2015-16: by winning a major European trophy, beating a Spanish rival in the final and just about taking victory from a game they were perhaps not always dominant in.
A 3-2 win after extra time against Sevilla saw them lift the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday, giving Zinedine Zidane his second piece of silverware in less than a year in charge. It also puts Real on the front foot for the new campaign—despite having many of their regular stars sidelined or only playing a small part of the action at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim, Norway.
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One of those who took their chance to shine in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale was Marco Asensio, with the young attacking midfielder impressing and scoring on his debut from the left side of Zidane's 4-1-4-1 system.
Possession in space
With Isco and Mateo Kovacic playing the central-midfield roles, there were plenty of opportunities for Real Madrid to turn defensive possession into attacking buildup play through the centre, but Sevilla's ability to press and try to turn Real around meant that Los Blancos often looked wide to find space.
Lucas Vazquez is all about pace and penetration behind the full-backs down the right wing, but Asensio's movement was more based on guile, timing and looking to be involved as often as possible.
While on loan at Espanyol last season, Asensio showed how effective he was both from a No. 10 role and also from the left side of the attack, playing in the channel and drifting infield when the time was right—and it was in this capacity that he shone against Sevilla.
With Mariano frequently high upfield for Jorge Sampaoli's new team, Asensio either loitered in the spaces behind him or else looked to break infield and create a central overload when the Sevilla defence was more focused on striker Alvaro Morata and Isco, playmaking from deep.
Asensio's goal came, as shown above, from one of his well-timed moments to cut inside and occupy gaps between the lines, with an unerring shot into the top corner proving a spectacular way to mark his competitive debut just over a year after signing for Real Madrid from Mallorca.
Counters, breaking lines
Chances were few and far between for Real Madrid in the second half, and Sevilla were the better side on the ball.
The Europa League champions' link-up play wasn't quite perfect—though it improved markedly after Luciano Vietto departed just after an hour and Hiroshi Kiyotake shifted more centrally—but they did keep Real away from goal for the most part, won the ball back quickly and tried to switch play with frequency to make use of Timothee Kolodziejczak and Mariano being so far upfield.
In turn, it meant that Real Madrid made more use of counter-attacking moments, and despite being far from the quickest player on the pitch, the intelligence of movement shown by Asensio meant he was still an effective outlet for the team.
More than once he needed only a well-timed shuttle run to work himself 20 yards of space behind the full-back, allowing Real's midfielders to drive on from deeper and create dangerous situations on the break.
Isco in particular benefited from playing on the same side of midfield as Asensio, and the two almost linked to great effect twice in the second half, but Morata was also the beneficiary of the 20-year-old's vision despite having a quiet game overall.
System options
James Rodriguez being left on the bench even though the entire BBC attack, as well as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, were not in the starting XI spoke volumes—and disappointing ones, from the Colombian's point of view.
It was down to others to stake a claim, though, and Asensio managed it, but once Ronaldo and Co. return to fitness, the suspicion is that Zidane will revert to the same faces who took him to the Champions League final last season.
With the wide forwards in that setup being more inclined to attack relentlessly, the team is set up much more with three true forwards than five across the midfield.
Asensio can be Ronaldo's alternative on the left in that system, but he won't play much as the No. 7 will, of course, be picked for nearly every game.
Real have played 4-4-2 in pre-season as well as 4-1-4-1, and while in the latter formation Asensio could operate right across the middle quartet of roles, in the 4-4-2 he can also be an option on either flank with Ronaldo as one of the strikers.
After the game, Zidane said, per Marca: "Asensio is here to stay, and he had a very complete performance ... My plan is for him to remain with the first team."
It's a strong indication of just how much the attacking midfielder has impressed over the summer, and it's a worthy reward to remain involved with the side in 2016-17.
Fight to impress
With so many familiar faces missing, Asensio wasn't the only one vying to impress.
Isco had a good first half, involved centrally and showing how he could be an asset in midfield, but once more his impact faded. Once Sevilla gained the upper hand in midfield possession, he was a bystander, not contributing defensively and unable to help wrest control back.
It is this lack of aggression and all-round midfield play that puts him several levels below the likes of Modric, who remains the key to Real's centre of the park.
Mateo Kovacic showed plenty of endeavour and drive in both halves of the field, and he must be a genuine candidate to push Kroos for game time once the season gets under way after performing well all summer.
The Croatian's ability to surge forward and cover ground in possession is a huge asset for the team when playing on the counter, though his end product needs to be of a higher level.
It was a first-string quartet at the back, but Marcelo has to take the plaudits for leading the defensive line.
Sergio Ramos might have scored the late equaliser, but he was erratic in possession and conceded daft fouls, just as he did most of last season—including the penalty for Sevilla to take the lead in the Super Cup.
Instead, the direction and organisation stemmed from the left-back holding his line, not surging forward relentlessly and giving Asensio support from deep, yet with space to operate in.
The Brazilian, 28, looks set for a big season and is one of Real's most consistent performers—and his exchanges in passing with Asensio doubtless contributed to the confidence the younger of the two men showed as the game went on, which can only bode well for the season ahead.
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