da apostebet： Carlo Ancelotti's side head into Sunday's derby with Atletico Madrid having won all six matches they have played in all competitions so far this term
da cassino： There was plenty of uncertainty ahead of Real Madrid's season. Los Blancos, although well-stocked in midfield and rife with talent on either wing, had some clear holes in their line-up. A pre-season Clasico loss, coupled with a significant injury to Thibaut Courtois before the campaign had even started, made things look even more precarious.
While their most obvious challengers, Barcelona, got stronger after winning La Liga, Madrid appeared to have held steady. However, their season, at least in the early goings, has been more successful than many predicted. Indeed, Madrid have been victorious in every game so far, overturned 1-0 deficits three times, and bagged two stoppage-time winners. Whether by luck or mentality, this is a side that is performing far better than it should be heading into Sunday's derby clash with Atletico Madrid.
And how has this all happened? Certainly, Jude Bellingham has played his part. But how has team without Karim Benzema and short of its best winger, centre-back and goalkeeper managed to top the table after five games?
GettyBellingham, Bellingham and more Bellingham
Where would Madrid be without Bellingham this season? The stats certainly tell some of the story. He has scored six and assisted one in six games in all competitions since signing from Borussia Dortmund, having a hand in seven of Madrid's 11 goals this season.
But there's more to it than that. Bellingham has made this Madrid side his own in the absence of the injured Vinicius Jr, and without a big-name striker coming in to replace Benzema. Carlo Ancelotti's side were supposed to struggle in forward areas this season. In theory, a team with two excellent wingers but no centre-forward would struggle to break down La Liga's tight defences. It was Benzema, remember, who helped get the best out of Vinicius for the past two seasons.
In that sense, playing Bellingham so far forward seemed an imperfect fit. Here is a player who needs to be on the ball, in the middle of the pitch, as much as possible. Or so we thought. Bellingham has functioned as a 'false nine' for most of the campaign so far, a player who can not only add the finishing touch but also do the creative bits leading up to it.
As talented as he is, Bellingham cannot do everything alone, and will inevitably slow down. For now, though, he's carrying one of Europe's top sides on his 20-year-old back.
AdvertisementGettyRevitalised Carvajal
With previous captain Benzema gone, and Courtois injured, Madrid needed someone to step up and assume the armband. Dani Carvajal has done that with aplomb. The right-back was a liability at times towards the end of last season, his ageing legs proving costly in a number of big games, notably the Champions League semi-final loss to Manchester City.
A summer off — he only played 24 minutes of Spain's Nations League win over Italy — has given Carvajal new life. The right-back has been among Madrid's best performers so far, scampering up and down the right side of the pitch like a younger version of himself, and offering an attacking thrust around the edge of a narrow Madrid midfield.
His contributions don't always show up on the stat sheet, as he has just one assist to his name so far this season. But if being a captain is about effort, leg work, and solid performances, then Carvajal is certainly a good one.
Improvements from Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni lost his place in the Madrid team entirely at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, and was even linked with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu this summer. But he opted to stick around, and vowed to fight for his place.
Early signs are that Tchouameni made the right decision. He has worked his way back into the picture this season, starting every game, and his contributions have been invaluable, too. Last season, Madrid were susceptible on the counter-attack in midfield. With Eduardo Camavinga — their only obvious No.6 — playing at left-back, Toni Kroos was forced into an uncomfortable defensive-midfield role. And it left them exposed for long stretches, Madrid far too easily hit on the counter by more expansive opponents.
This season, though, things look different. Tchouameni's solidity has given Kroos license to drift and distribute. He has also been more than capable cover for new full-back Fran Garcia when he roams down the line.
There is a long way to go here, especially given that Tchouameni is still 23. But for now, his presence is making Madrid a far more impactful side than they were just a few months ago.
GettyResponse to major injuries
When Vinicius went down in the 15th minute of Madrid's clash with Celta Vigo in early September, things didn't look very good in the Spanish capital. Never mind that Vinicius is arguably the club's best player, here was a winger who was supposed to take on the bulk of the goalscoring burden this season now facing a spell on the sidelines.
Madrid, of course, won that game thanks to a Bellingham strike in the 81st minute. In that same contest, though, Joselu turned in a solid performance up front, while Rodrygo still found a groove in the absence of his international team-mate.
Vinicius' injury, which will rule him out for another couple of weeks, was minor compared to the ailments sustained by some of the club's big names within the first 48 hours of the season. Two days before the opener, Courtois, arguably the best in the world at his position, went down in training with a torn ACL.
Eder Militao only lasted one half against Athletic Club on the opening day before enduring the same injury, but Antonio Rudiger has stepped into the defence and performed admirably so far. And while Courtois' replacement, Kepa Arrizabalaga, is yet to be truly tested, he seems to have settled in reasonably well after completing a loan deal from Chelsea.