Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga impress in fullback roles.
After losses in both legs against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, a stern test against Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabeu was up next for Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. With injury worry and lack of reliable options in fullback positions, the Italian decided to start the game with psuedo fullbacks.
Fede Valverde was named as the starting right-back ahead of Lucas Vazquez and Eduardo Camavinga was named the starting left-back ahead of Fran Garcia. Both players held their own and were influential in all phases of play, presenting a solution to a recurring problem for Madrid this season.
Fede Valverde, apart from scoring the winner, looked solid starting in that right-back role. The Uruguayan has filled in across the field and has never once looked out of place. In fact, even while playing in midfield on paper against Arsenal in the second leg, Valverde was often playing as the psuedo right back with Vazquez positioned higher up.
The 26-year-old was exceptional in his defensive actions, winning all three of his aerial duels, making three crucial clearances. His five recoveries in this game was only bettered by Tchouameni (7). Valverde’s ability to hold his own in duels, win possession back and recover from precarious situations in case of the turnover is an area Ancelotti’s side has looked exposed in this season due to the lack of a defensive structure.
The best, however, came in the final third of the pitch. His seven shots, with three on target, in this game was the most by any player — scoring the winning goal with a thunderous effort in the the final minutes. His 93 touches was only behind Luka Modric (102) and Aurelien Tchouameni (97) in the game. In fact, his four progressive passes was only behind the Croatian in this game..
Valverde’s involvement in every phase of play along with his impeccable availability record has made him an indispensible part of Ancelotti’s side.
On the opposite flank, Eduardo Camavinga looked at home playing the LB position. Camavinga has seemingly recovered his mojo in recent games, resembling his older self. In this game, there were multiple sequences where Camavinga carried the ball from the middle third, breaking lines while holding off challenges through a crowded area.
He looked good in his defensive actions, making vital recoveries in Madrid’s own half, while reading and intercepting play really well too. His advanced positioning in possession was vital to unlock Vinicius Jr on the left flank, who looked very influential in the game. In fact, only Vinicius Jr (14) and Rodrygo (13) received more progressive passes than the Frenchman in this game.
Real Madrid have had three of their midfielders fill in positions in defence on multiple ocassions across season now. Aurelien Tchouameni has been the first option to play CB in a crisis, Valverde is the only other RB option in the squad and Camavinga at times has looked like the better LB option. While having players who can slot into multiple positions is great, it raises questions about the recruitment, squad building and trusting the academy options.
Although the makeshift solution worked against Athletic Club, it underlines the lack of true options across defence this season. This also takes away from unlocking the entire potential in midfield for Los Blancos — making this solution a two fold problem in essence.
