Asensio and Hazard, under suspicion

For Ancelotti there are three levels in Madrid’s forward line. Vinicius and Benzema are in the attic, Rodrygo one floor below and Asensio and Rodrygo in the basement. Although it is for different reasons, the Balearic and the Belgian have become very secondary options. Cornellà was the best example. Although Madrid was struggling, with that 1-1 on the scoreboard after 85 minutes, Carletto decided not to make a move with either of those two. He ‘stretched’ Benzema’s game (ultimately the author of 1-2 in 88′) so that he played his fourth consecutive full game before resorting to Asensio or Hazard.

More than significant and indicative of the status of both in the current white squad. Between the two they have barely enjoyed 46 official minutes: 39 the Belgian, seven the Spanish international… The case of Calvià is the most significant because its future is still burning. More because of the uncertainty than because of any real movement from another club for him. On Thursday the market closes and if he left it wouldn’t be a disturbance for the club eitherwho does not think about doing it expressly with a substitute.

With Hazard, meanwhile, Ancelotti has tried since the beginning of the summer to convert him into a false nine to give the position more depth (Mariano does not count) and thus find a way in which to give more ground to the 7 white. During the preseason and in these first four official matches, the Belgian has shown almost nothing. Neither a goal, nor a feeling of being a real alternative for that position when Benzema is not there or has to rest. That role will now go to Rodrygo.

Eden in free fall

Hazard does not lift his head because not even his best physical condition has given him back part of his best football. The 39 minutes in this start are far from what he played in the first four official games last year (203 minutes). A totally secondary role that continues to affect its market value. According to the specialized website Transfermarkt, has fallen to 12 million and is approaching the symbolic barrier of €10M, a tenth of what Madrid paid for him…