This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
This Saturday, La Liga finally returns to the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid host Levante on matchday four of the new 2019/20 campaign. And, by the looks of things, it’s set to be a real banger.
On the chalkboard
After the first three games of the new season, Real Madrid have only tallied one victory and are currently actually sitting one spot below their weekend opponents Levante. Apart from their opening day victory against Celta Vigo, Los Blancos haven’t been able to snatch all three points and have drawn both of the games in the build-up to this one.
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Levante, on the other hand, have been somewhat more successful, claiming the fourth spot by following up an opening day defeat with two consecutive victories. But what’s even more impressive is that they’ve scored four goals in their last two games, and they are looking to really cause some trouble to the Galacticos.
With that being said, Zinedine Zidane will be hoping one particular battle goes his way on Saturday.
Attack vs defence
Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale this Saturday as the Welshman is serving a suspension for getting sent off in the game against Villarreal. This might cause a problem because Bale has actually scored two goals and assisted one for Los Blancos so far and has been a big presence on the pitch.
But with that in mind, that might also place more pressure on Karim Benzema, who will absolutely have to be at his best if Real Madrid want to win this game. Just like Bale, Benzema has also netted two goals and an assist so far and will go head to head with one of Levante’s outstanding performers this term, Ruben Vezo.
The Galacticos will be hoping that Benzema’s 3.7 shots per game edge out Vezo’s 1.7 tackles per game and that the Frenchman can utilise his passing against the Portuguese’s ability to intercept. Benzema has averaged 1.3 key passes per game while Vezo has two interceptions per game to his name so far.
And Benzema might have some trouble getting past Vezo with his one dribble per game as the 25-year-old defender has, so far, only been dribbled past 0.3 times per game.
Both men are, however, pretty good in the air and it will be interesting to see who exits that bout as the victor.
Benzema tallied 2.3 aerials won per game while Vezo registered 3.7 under his belt.
By all accounts, it seems that this battle just might decide the whole game on Saturday.
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