The FC crew assess the impact Real Madrid's "BBC" trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo had on the club's win over Valencia in their first start together in 280 days.
A certain generation of Spaniards amble to their local newspaper kiosk each morning, exchange pleasantries with the vendor, and pick up a sports newspaper. The Atletico Madrid supporters among them would have tutted on Monday. Atletico's victory over Las Palmas was tucked away on the bottom corner of the Marca front page. Barcelona's victory over Alaves received the same brief acknowledgment.
A photo of Marcelo sat above both results, in a more prominent position. His return to form is that important to Real Madrid. "Back to his best," read the caption.
Marcelo -- now in his 12th season in Spain -- produced an encouraging performance on Saturday afternoon as Madrid eased past Valencia. A goal in the 85th minute was the highlight. Marcelo and Marco Asensio combined with elastic movement on the left flank. Neat touches, a darting run, and a forceful shot. The goal revealed the feature of Marcelo's profile that makes him so effective: while most wing-backs overlap to the byline and deliver a cross, Marcelo arcs inside towards the corner of the box.
There was more to Marcelo's game than the goal. Madrid launched 48 percent of their attacks on the left side of the pitch, compared to 29 percent on the right. That reflects the importance of Marcelo's role as an auxiliary playmaker operating from the touchline.
But three weeks ago, Marcelo's outlook was bleak. "We can't do anything more," he said, exasperated, after Madrid drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Jan. 7. Celta scored their second goal after Marcelo surrendered possession by attempting a decadent ruleta in his own half.
His performances were poor in the final months of 2017. He was sluggish. His distribution was slapdash. He looked unfit. Marcelo had suffered a muscular strain in September. He returned to the team the following month having only missed three matches. Yet that injury appeared to have a residual effect.
Marcelo's resurgence comes at an opportune time for Madrid, who face PSG in two weeks.
The Brazil international was under less pressure as he recuperated because of Theo Hernandez's inability to challenge for a regular place in the team. Competition for places is positive for the dynamic in a squad. In this case, however, Marcelo's firm grasp of the left-back position afforded him a run of matches, and an opportunity to play his way back into form away from the spectre of rotation.
It is no coincidence that Marcelo's months-long run of mediocrity ended with excellent performances against Deportivo and Valencia. Zinedine Zidane returned to his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation in both matches. It is a woolly jumper on a winter day for Zidane; reassuring and safe. That system also liberates Marcelo.
Cristiano Ronaldo gravitates inwards from the left flank, leaving space for Marcelo to attack. Marcelo does not benefit from the same, uniform player movements when Isco plays as a No.10 with license to roam. Isco naturally drifts towards the left, as from there he can approach the goal with his right foot. Yet that movement congests the left side and stifles Marcelo. Diego Torres -- a journalist at El Pais -- reported that Isco only had a run in the team at the end of the 2017-18 season because Florentino Perez did not want him to join Barcelona at the end of his contract. Torres added that Isco was Zidane's fifth-choice central midfielder -- behind Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Lucas Vazquez. If this is the case, then Zidane's lack of faith in Isco may emerge from the problems he poses to the balance of a 4-3-3 formation and, by extension, Marcelo.
¿Por qué Isco no juega más con Zidane? Isco jugó en enero-junio de 2017 por razones políticas y él lo sabe. Florentino quería que se sintiera importante y evitar así su salida al Barça. Ya comenté en abril que a Zidane nunca le entusiasmó situarlo por detrás de 3 atacantes: pic.twitter.com/LXFWiiPXix
- Diego Torres Romano (@diegotorresro) January 30, 2018
Those problems diminish when Kroos occupies his usual spot on the left of a more orthodox three-man midfield. The Germany international, who has an eye for the simple pass, lays the ball to Marcelo and remains tucked inside. Marcelo had 108 touches -- more than any other player -- against Deportivo. Kroos was second with 99. Their roles reversed at Valencia, where Kroos topped the touches table with 106 and Marcelo followed with 95. The left side of the pitch, around the halfway line, is a productive area for Madrid when those two combine.
Zidane's substitutions at Mestalla also helped Marcelo at a crucial point in the match. Madrid were under sustained pressure after Santi Mina clawed a goal back for Valencia. Carlos Soler and Jose Gaya exploited Madrid in wide areas. Zidane responded by introducing Vazquez -- a willing practitioner of defensive graft -- on the right flank, as the system solidified into a 4-5-1. Ronaldo, and then Asensio, provided greater defensive cover for Marcelo.
Marcelo's return to form comes at an important time. Madrid face PSG in two weeks. Their meek submission to Barcelona in the La Liga title race and defeat by Leganes in the Copa del Rey mean all of Madrid's eggs are nestled in the Champions League basket. With Marcelo playing well and Madrid back using a familiar system, those eggs have a better chance of hatching something positive for the second half the season.
Matt McGinn is ESPN FC's Real Madrid blogger. Twitter: @McGinn93
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Source: espn.co.uk