Lucas Vázquez Emerges As Real Madrid’s Unlikely Clásico Hero

Midfield celebrity Jude Bellingham has caught the attention together with his eloquence and media coaching since making the transfer to Actual Madrid. Plaudits have showered him with reward for his intricate explanations and perception into the lifetime of one among soccer’s largest stars. But his submit on X following Actual Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Barcelona may need been essentially the most uncooked but. He merely posted, “Lucas Vázquez you ****ing legend”.

Few may have seen Lucas being the hero coming. Second-choice at right-back behind Dani Carvajal, he’s often solely included for such headline video games when his team-mate is not obtainable. On this case, Carlo Ancelotti opted to relaxation Carvajal, giving Lucas what could be solely his fourth full 90 minutes within the Clásico in 9 years on the membership.

Regardless of that, Lucas has lengthy been the person for the massive event. Simply earlier this week, he confirmed his composure to return on instead in extra-time and rifle house his penalty-kick within the victorious shoot-out towards Manchester Metropolis.

That very same expertise would come into play on Sunday night time’s Clásico. Pau Cubarsí naively left a leg hanging within the field, and Lucas noticed his probability to pressure the contact and go down and earn a spot kick, which Vinícius Júnior scored to stage the tie.

In a while, Lucas would get himself on the scoresheet. It could be a transfer harking back to Ousmane Dembélé’s strike towards Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain earlier within the week, clearly profiting from a spot in João Cancelo’s positioning to search out area and rating on the far-post. The same transfer in damage time, when Lucas continued to clock up the miles and burst down the flank, allowed him to whip the ball throughout the face of purpose for Jude Bellingham to faucet in a winner for Actual Madrid.

The cameras centered on Bellingham as he ran in the direction of the followers, however he was headed in the direction of his team-mate to hyperlink arms and dance as the 2 males who had mixed to safe a vital victory which will get one Actual Madrid hand on the La Liga title.

The function of the bit-part participant

Lucas is a kind of figures at Actual Madrid who add the character to the squad. Removed from the superstars or Galácticos that boss the dressing room, he is among the quiet leaders who will contribute in his personal approach, from the bench or just together with his presence.

“I all the time attempt to do one of the best I can and provides my all and carry out effectively. I all the time attempt to play in addition to I can for myself and for everybody,” he mirrored when chatting with the media earlier than a Champions League tie with Union Berlin in December.

Even so, enjoying such a job just isn’t straightforward for a participant who may begin for many high groups in Europe. The inconsistency has its drawbacks, as he himself has acknowledged, saying, “there are good moments and unhealthy moments. Whenever you aren’t getting minutes otherwise you don’t really feel necessary, you are feeling unhealthy. You must preserve your head cool and practice to the max, figuring out that you simply’re succesful and believing in your self. I don’t lack that. I’m at Actual Madrid, the place I’ve all the time needed to be, so I’ll give my all for myself and for my membership.”

Not since 2014/15, when Lucas was loaned out for normal first group motion to RCD Espanyol, has he performed greater than 2,000 minutes in La Liga. Within the white of Actual Madrid, his document stays at 1,850 minutes over the course of a league season in 2020/21.

Nevertheless, each time he is known as upon, Lucas turns up. That is simply the newest case the place he has proven as a lot. Like his companion Nacho, who he performed alongside for the membership’s B-team, Castilla, he has spent most of his profession enjoying for the membership he loves, accepting that he won’t ever be its star, however thriving when he’s most wanted. Sunday night time on the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu was simply the newest working example.

Lucas’ unsure future

The 32-year-old defender has modified his place from a pacey winger to a dependable full-back, however his future stays unclear as he enters the ultimate months of his current contract at Actual Madrid.

In February, Relevo reported that Actual Madrid was eager to make him a proposal to increase his stick with the membership, however two months on there was no tangible progress in talks. Lucas himself has declared his love for the membership publicly, however has not spoken brazenly on his future.

Actual Madrid wish to strengthen in defence this summer season, the place Dani Carvajal is already first alternative, and Lucas might discover himself much more on the periphery of the first-team image. He’ll wish to add to his 343 appearances for the membership, however is aware of that the arrival of competitors will show a check, simply because the likes of Álvaro Odriozola have up to now.

On the age of 32, he could also be tempted to comply with within the footsteps of Nacho, and search for a last contract in his profession elsewhere to have a profitable finish to his profession. What is evident from this Clásico is that Lucas nonetheless has what it takes so as to add actual worth to Actual Madrid even on the largest of events.