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Real Madrid's Plan B enters the picture: Militao, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Lucas...

  /  autty

Zinedine Zidane's magic formula for winning his first LaLiga Santander title as coach of Real Madrid included plenty of changes and opportunities to players who usually start games on the bench.

Although this season he has not done it as often as he did back in 2016/17, several of his second-choice players have managed to deliver after coming off the bench following the pandemic-enforced break.

Eder Militao was the latest to be given playing time in this final stretch of the season by the Frenchman against Athletic Club and joined a set of players consisting of Fede Valverde, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior and lately Lucas Vazquez.

Mendy and Valverde

They have both started a few games and Zidane considers them as vital components in the ongoing title race.

Valverde has gained his coach's confidence and Mendy is rotating with Marcelo at left-back.

Vinicius and Rodrygo

Eden Hazard has missed a few games due to injury and Karim Benzema has been the only available striker after Jovic's injury.

Thus, the two Brazilians have been given various opportunities and paid back their coach's confidence in various occasions.

Militao and Asensio

Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are undisputable in defence, but the former's suspension and the latter's injury led to Militao finding his way into the starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Asensio, who was considered as a starter before suffering a serious injury last summer, has returned to action after the break.

Lucas

He has recovered from injury and is again at Zidane's disposal for the remaining important encounters.

His work rate will provide Real Madrid with more energy in attack until the end of the season.