Real Madrid 2017 vs. Real Madrid 2007: Which Is the Stronger XI?
Turn the clocks back a decade and the Real Madrid side looked extremely different to the team now—although one component of the lineup remains the same, providing a link from then to now.
But how do the two teams compare?
Real Madrid have just vanquished Napoli in the Champions League, progressing thanks to a comeback victory in Italy, while 10 years ago almost to the day, they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Getafe.
We've lined up the teams to decide which XI is superior, matching players as positionally close as possible throughout given the two lineups fielded different formations.
GK: Keylor Navas vs. Iker Casillas
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Keylor Navas was perhaps at a higher level last season than this, but even at his peak, he cannot hope to compete with what Iker Casillas achieved at the club.
In 2007, San Iker was still performing at a consistently high level. He was the last line of defence, entrusted with keeping Madrid competing at the elite end of the game even when those ahead of him were chopped and changed with regularity.
Both have tremendous reflexes, both rely on agility, but Casillas was the better in his prime.
Navas 9-10 Casillas
DF: Dani Carvajal vs. Miguel Torres
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Dani Carvajal is a fixture in the team in the biggest of games, and he's arguably the most reliable long-term right-back since the days of Michel Salgado.
Strong going forward, aggressive with his defensive work and with a fine cross on him, Carvajal's days away from Madrid really helped shape him as a player before returning.
By contrast, Miguel Torres never really convinced as a Madrid-level player after breaking through, which was largely confirmed by his career being spent mainly at Getafe and now Malaga, who are typically much further down the table in La Liga.
Torres served his purpose, but he certainly doesn't trouble Carvajal in this battle.
Carvajal 10-8 Torres
DF: Sergio Ramos vs. Sergio Ramos
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The one link from 10 years ago, Sergio Ramos was right-back or centre-back then, and he is only a centre-back now.
Which version is better? It's a tough decision.
In his early seasons at Madrid, Ramos surged forward regularly and with power—regardless of being in the middle or on the side of defence—taking opposition players out of the game with his acceleration.
However, he would make even more silly fouls than he does now—Ramos received nine red cards in his first four seasons at Madrid.
Now he is more responsible in terms of leading the team and being a go-to persona when Real need a big moment. But his recklessness remains, both in the challenge and in his positional sense.
It's too close to call.
Ramos 2017 9-9 Ramos 2007
DF: Pepe vs. Ivan Helguera
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Two defensive stalwarts battle for the right to partner Ramos. Back before the end of the last decade, Ivan Helguera was still involved and playing out his final seasons at the club, while now it's Pepe who is similarly close to the end of his Real Madrid adventure.
Both aggressive, aerially dominant and somewhat fiery characters, they also share the similarity of being somewhat underrated or perhaps just overshadowed by their team-mates.
Helguera was an immense player in his prime but just the wrong side of that level in 2007, while Pepe—although inconsistent with form and fitness this term—was exceptional up until the summer.
Pepe 10-9 Helguera
DF: Marcelo vs. Roberto Carlos
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At left-back, it's a true battle of Brazilian legends, with Roberto Carlos dominating the flank for year after year before Marcelo took over at Real Madrid.
Personal preference will count for much as to which player comes out on top, and even then it depends on if the onlooker has managed to see both players in their prime.
This was Roberto Carlos' final season at Madrid, but even at this stage he still rampaged forward, was tremendous at racing back to make last-ditch challenges and could dribble his way out of trouble.
Marcelo, who joined Real Madrid around two months before our game in question, has proved similar, albeit rather more durable in one-on-one defensive situations and less inclined to shoot from range.
Marcelo 10-10 Roberto Carlos
MF: Casemiro vs. Fernando Gago
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Defensive midfield isn't always a role that gets a lot of love at Real Madrid, but Casemiro has made the position his own over the past 12 months and lent credence to the idea that more balance and less attacking impetus from every angle isn't a bad thing.
Strong in the challenge, physically dominant and neat with the ball at his feet, Casemiro is an all-rounder who protects the back line extremely well.
Back in 2007, Fernando Gago was the man trying to make the role his own but far more as a deep playmaker rather than destroyer. The Argentinian was a fine player, but as is the case when technicians are expected to perform the dual role, he struggled with the defensive aspects at times.
Casemiro 10-9 Gago
MF: Luka Modric vs. David Beckham
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Quite the battle here, and both Luka Modric and David Beckham shared one trait in particular: They were (or are) arguably the most combative and hardworking players on the team, even if that attribute isn't what they are best known for.
Croatian schemer Modric is at times the difference between a good and a great Real performance, lending direction to the buildup without sacrificing responsibility in the middle.
Beckham won over the crowd and his team-mates with his versatility, delivery and non-stop approach to improvement, individually and ultimately within the Real Madrid setup. It's close, but ultimately a little more genuine quality shines through on one side.
Modric 10-9 Beckham
MF: Toni Kroos vs. Jose Antonio Reyes
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Perhaps the least balanced of the XI head-to-heads, both in terms of role in the team and importance of the respective players: Toni Kroos is the current side's third central midfielder, while the double pivot operation of 2007 meant Jose Antonio Reyes was one of the wider options between midfield and attack.
Kroos is the metronome, playing the ball about with grace, vision and no shortage of ingenuity while also attacking late from deep and delivering set pieces with accuracy.
Reyes was a loan signing, filling in as another attacking option without being a guaranteed starter and only lasting a single season at the Santiago Bernabeu—though he did net the goals at the end of the campaign that sealed the league title.
Even so, it's not close.
Kroos 10-7 Reyes
FW: Gareth Bale vs. Robinho
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Two flying wide forwards, one signed as the next best thing out of South America, the other signed as the next best thing to Cristiano Ronaldo.
It's fair to say one has so far enjoyed somewhat more success at fulfilling those expectations.
Robinho quickly fell flat after an exciting start, with his skills and goal threat diminishing before he was sold to Manchester City. Gareth Bale, on the other hand, continues to evolve and impress, growing in every sense into the Real Madrid shirt.
Bale 10-8 Robinho
FW: Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Ruud van Nistelrooy
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In terms of these head-to-heads, this is our Clasico, our meeting of giants: 2017 Cristiano Ronaldo vs. 2007 Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The current No. 7 is still the poster boy of Madrid, the top scorer, the relentless genius at work and the shoulders on which expectation will naturally fall. He has longevity to his name, countless records and is the reigning best player in the world, even if he hasn't quite hit his own amazing heights in '16/17 as yet.
Meanwhile, this was the Dutch striker's first and best season in Spain, netting a thunderous 33 goals all told—the focal point of the attack, the guaranteed source of goals, the clinical finisher from any angle. He was unstoppable...save for injury, which came later.
It's impossibly close.
Ronaldo 10-10 Van Nistelrooy
FW: Karim Benzema vs. Gonzalo Higuain
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On a long-term note, Karim Benzema won the real-life head-to-head between these two: They duelled for game time before Gonzalo Higuain was sold to Napoli.
Since then, he has eclipsed Benzema in the past year or two, but our head-to-head is not concerned with Higuain's days in Serie A.
In 2007, he was still a raw talent, capable of great things but erratic in front of goal and without the poise and clinical edge for which he has become known—Higuain notched just two goals in this campaign.
Benzema this year has been way, way below his best for Real Madrid—short of sharpness and the great link play that has been his hallmark—but he remains trusted by Zidane to lead the line. He wins this battle, but it's not as clear-cut as it might have been a year ago.
Benzema 9-8 Higuain
Overall Result
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107-97
The class of 2017 takes the honours, finishing a cumulative 10 points clear of their decade-old predecessor.
Real Madrid won La Liga at the end of 06/07, so the current crop must still retain enormous faith that, with a better side overall, they can go on and achieve that long-overdue feat once again.
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