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As has already been reported, Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes is ready to return after a brief layoff and will be included in the squad for the match against Getafe.
The Brazilian has been training normally with the rest of his teammates for several days and could have featured in the return leg against SL Benfica, but he was suspended.
Therefore, it will not be until next Monday that he is available again for Alvaro Arbeloa.
New challenge for Rodrygo
However, as reported by MARCA, Rodrygo’s return comes with a problem and a new challenge: his usual position in the starting eleven no longer exists in Real Madrid’s new system of play.
Some things have changed in the team since the Brazilian international was injured on 6 February, including one that directly affects him.
Real Madrid no longer play with a front three and have removed the role of the right winger, the position where the Brazilian usually found his place, with Vinicius Jr. on the left and Kylian Mbappe through the centre.
Arbeloa has found his ideal XI with four midfielders, and it is Federico Valverde who exploits the right flank from his position. Meanwhile, the attack has been reduced to two out-and-out forwards, with Vinicius and Mbappe operating up top.
Back from injury. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
In this way, the traditional right winger role has disappeared in the lineup and it is Valverde and Trent Alexander-Arnold who take responsibility for working the flank.
Mastantuono struggling, Rodrygo could too
This situation is already affecting Franco Mastantuono, who has disappeared from the starting line-ups, after being a regular for Arbeloa, and now Rodrygo will have to face it.
The Brazilian appeared to have regained lost ground in the final stretch of Xabi Alonso’s time in charge, but now his prominence is once again uncertain. Finding a place for him in the lineup will not be a simple task now that the right winger position has disappeared.
On the one hand, he could compete as a natural replacement for Vinicius Jr in the left-side channel. On the other, he could battle for the No. 9 position with Gonzalo Garcia in the absence of Mbappe, who is injured.
All this must be considered in light of the fact that the Brazilian has barely been available during Arbeloa’s spell in charge. Rodrygo has been sidelined for 32 of the 46 days that the coach has been on the Madrid bench.
Of the 11 matches Arbeloa has overseen, the forward has featured in only three, against AS Monaco, Rayo Vallecano and Benfica. He did not start any of them and played only 48 minutes in total.
Now fit and ready to go again, Rodrygo has a challenge ahead of him.