Military File

One of the positive news that aspired to appear in all the analyzes of the Madrid season was the good pairing that Militao and Alaba had made as a pair of central defenders. Faced with the difficult task of making the lasting Varane-Ramos duo forget, the Brazilian and the Austrian had responded perfectly to the first few changes. A signing that fit in without the need for an adaptation period and a footballer who, although he had left many doubts in the few opportunities he had had in the previous two seasons, after little continuity, he justified why Madrid paid Porto 50 million to make him the most expensive defender in the history of the white club. Nevertheless, In the last month, Militao has reminded the center-back, who was nervous, insecure and reckless at times, who had shown himself in the first two years. Nacho’s good moment, with excellent performances and the versatility of guarantees that he offers Ancelotti for any place in defense, raises the debate in defense for the Champions League final.

It all started in Pizjuán. A bad first half forced Madrid to one of their customary comebacks. Militao appeared in the photo of the two Sevilla goals. Rakitic took advantage of the gap that the Brazilian opened in the barrier to slip in the direct free kick that opened the scoring and minutes later Papu Gómez beat him in the race after which he enabled Lamela to make it 2-0. Osasuna also took advantage of a vulnerability that the player from São Paulo gave him to score Budimir’s goal. He lost the mark and tried to clear the center with a technical center as churrigueresque as it was vain.

In the tie against Manchester City he showed nervousness again. In the first leg he put Courtois in a tight spot in a compromised loan and in the second leg he was not decisive either. In Manchester he lost 16 balls and in the second leg (he played 115 minutes), 13; two of the three worst data for him in this section this season.

Returning to the League, in the derby he suffered in speed and hand-to-hand combat with Cunha, although he was impregnable in one of his strengths: his aerial game. In Cádiz the crazy version of Militao appeared again, which left many spaces for Lucas Pérez. Although with the ball he was remarkable and barely lost three balls.

Some of its data reflects the sensations it leaves behind. In four of the six games he has played in the last month he has not been able to keep up with his average for the season in recoveries, games won (both in absolute terms and in percentage of success), losses or clearances, according to data from Opta. Considering only the League matches, and pending the consolidation of the data for the match against Cádiz, they are in their worst form (5.81 average score in the last month) since September, according to the algorithm developed by Olocip.

While Militao seems to waver, Nacho describes his performances as outstanding wherever Ancelotti puts him, be it in the center of the defense or on the left side. The youth squad has played 45 minutes or more in six of the last seven games for the league champions. The only match that was lost, precisely the one that sentenced the title against Espanyol, was sanctioned. Providential in many actions and superlative in the second leg against City, his security and his hierarchy postulate him as a worthy and deserved candidate to be a starter in Paris. The debate is served.