Real Madrid are weaving their way through a tricky moment due to the injury crisis that has plagued the club, but there are solutions to the problems. Brahim and Joselu, two of the fringe players in the squad who have been knocking on the door of the first team all season, are set to have an increased role in the squad given the amount of absences at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The swelling in Rodrygo’s knee is a short-term issue, and he made the squad for the game against Cádiz (Sun 26 Nov, KO 12.30 p.m. ET / 9.30 a.m. PT.), but Vinicius Jr did not, given his torn hamstring is keeping him out until way past the new year. The number ‘7′ is not due back until at least February and, during that time, Real Madrid’s new duo will have to pull up their socks and get to work.
Joselu or Brahim: who fits best for Real Madrid?
The good news is that the new duo have already performed admirably together. The last time they both appeared in the starting XI, against Las Palmas, Real Madrid won 2-0 thanks to a goal each coming from them. Joselu already has 5 goals this season, level with Rodrygo and behind only Vinicius Jr with 6 and Bellingham with 13. The 2 goals that Brahim has so far might not make such an impact on the stats sheet, but if they are taken into account per 90 minutes on the field, he starts to climb dramatically: Jude is the obvious winner here, with a goal every 96 minutes, but he shares the podium with both Brahim (1 goal every 68 minutes) and Joselu (58 minutes).
Joselu, Real Madrid’s number ‘14′, is arguably the only pure striker the first team squad has this season. He has an eye for goal and is the player who hits the most headers per game, with 1.5; poor Bellingham has to settle with second place (0.4). As for Brahim, he has been the like-for-like replacement for the ex-Birmingham midfielder, and can play either in the centre or pulling out towards the left, like against Valencia in LaLiga. He is more comfortable down the middle, and his direct football that always looks towards goal has put his dribbling numbers up there with Vinicius, who has 3.5 completed dribbles per 90; Brahim sits just behind on 3.4 per game.
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Where will Brahim play in Real Madrid’s starting XI?
Given the current context of the season, Brahim will also have the chance to gain some experience out on the right wing, where Ancelotti originally put him in preseason, in Rodrygo’s role. In the 4-3-1-2, as a striker, his inside runs and understanding with Bellingham were clear to see from minute one. The absence of Vinicius leaves Rodrygo the only immovable number in Ancelotti’s equation and it gives the pair in question a chance to fight it out for the final place in Real Madrid’s starting XI against Cádiz.
Of course, there is always the possibility that Ancelotti flips the script and goes with his 4-3-3 that we have grown so used to with this team, with Brahim floating out onto the left and pushing Bellingham back – literally. It seems a very attacking plan, and one that could be exploited, but the opportunity is there, and Cádiz will be the first game in which we see what Carlo decides to do without his true star forward.