League football resumes this weekend, with the Madrid derby one of several exciting games marking the end of the recent international break. Los Blancos could lose their number one spot if defeated, highlighting the importance of Saturday’s fixture.
Unfortunately for the 11-time Champions League winner, they face a selection headache in one key position: the lone striker role. According to Marca, Zinedine Zidane may not have Karim Benzema at his disposal in time for the weekend clash.
Furthermore, the French boss cannot select his second striker Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard is out for a month, meaning his participation in El Clasico is even under doubt.
As a result, Zizou is contemplating moving star attacker Cristiano Ronaldo from his regular wide position to the central striker role. Although this will not be his first time playing down the middle, as he has done before with Portugal and Les Merengues, it won’t be his preferred role.
Therefore, Zidane is left with two other options: play Lucaz Vazquez or Isco in the position left vacant by the three-time Ballon d’Or winner, or move Gareth Bale to the left and place the one of the two Spaniards on the right wing.
Whether Real Madrid will benefit from Cristiano playing in the middle is unknown, as the 31-year-old has struggled to find the back of the net for fun as in previous seasons.
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