Marco Asensio Showing How He Can Play a Big Part in Real Madrid’s 2016-17 Season

Real Madrid began their 2016-17 season the way they finished 2015-16: by winning a major European trophy, beating a Spanish rival in the final and just about taking victory from a game they were perhaps not always dominant in.

A 3-2 win after extra time against Sevilla saw them lift the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday, giving Zinedine Zidane his second piece of silverware in less than a year in charge. It also puts Real on the front foot for the new campaign—despite having many of their regular stars sidelined or only playing a small part of the action at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim, Norway.

One of those who took their chance to shine in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale was Marco Asensio, with the young attacking midfielder impressing and scoring on his debut from the left side of Zidane’s 4-1-4-1 system.

Possession in space

With Isco and Mateo Kovacic playing the central-midfield roles, there were plenty of opportunities for Real Madrid to turn defensive possession into attacking buildup play through the centre, but Sevilla’s ability to press and try to turn Real around meant that Los Blancos often looked wide to find space.

Lucas Vazquez is all about pace and penetration behind the full-backs down the right wing, but Asensio’s movement was more based on guile, timing and looking to be involved as often as possible.

While on loan at Espanyol last season, Asensio showed how effective he was both from a No. 10 role and also from the left side of the attack, playing in the channel and drifting infield when the time was right—and it was in this capacity that he shone against Sevilla.

With Mariano frequently high upfield for Jorge Sampaoli’s new team, Asensio either loitered in the spaces behind him or else looked to break infield and create a central overload when the Sevilla defence was more focused on striker Alvaro Morata and Isco, playmaking from deep.

Asensio’s goal came, as shown above, from one of his well-timed moments to cut inside and occupy gaps between the lines, with an unerring shot into the top corner proving a spectacular way to mark his competitive debut just over a year after signing for Real Madrid from Mallorca.

Counters, breaking lines

Chances were few and far between for Real Madrid in the second …

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