4 underlying problems of Real Madrid that the Clasico exposed

#2 Casemiro is not the solution

Casemiro was run ragged by Lionel Messi

For the majority of the season, the player that played the most important role in Real Madrid’s title surge was Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder made the deep midfield his own zone and harassed anyone that tried to cross his path.

However, of late, it seems as though the vulnerability of playing the former Porto player has been figured out by the opponents as his form has declined quite dramatically over the past few weeks.

Any player with good ball control and dribbling ability is getting the better of the Brazilian – and Lionel Messi did just that in the Clasico.

The Brazilian was finding it difficult to contain the Argentine and was constantly making mistimed tackles. Indeed, like last week against Bayern, Casemiro was lucky to not see the red card in the first half itself and doom his team right from the early stages of the game.

Fortunately for Real Madrid, they already have someone who can challenge the Brazilian for the spot next season: Marcos Llorente. The Real Madrid youth product has been the best holding midfielder in Europe this season after Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and should, ideally, replace Casemiro next season.

Whatever be the case, what can’t be argued is that, right now, Casemiro lacks the intelligence and positional awareness to be regarded as a successful holding midfielder like Claude Makelele or Gennaro Gattuso.