Villarreal 4-4 Real Madrid

Winning the league with so many games to go makes these last few games of the season have a sort of pre season feel to them, which has a real benefit of being able to get a lot more precise minutes to the squad players, especially the youngsters whom we are not sure about yet. Guler has really made the most of his game time recently, it wasn’t too long ago it looked like a real possibility he might head out on loan this summer, but now he will surely be a member of the squad for next season. Everything he touches turns to goals right now. Being able to give him time to get used to the weight of the RM shirt whilst getting La Liga experience in the least stressful, most carefree way possible having already won the league is a blessing, some players get throw in at the deep end, Camavinga for example in his first season appeared in knock out stage CL games, he rose to the pressure. Perhaps Guler would have done the same but I think this is a great way to get him used to the team. There is a serious question now about who Carlo will choose as his first attacking substitute from the bench. Diaz or Guler. I think Joselu will only play if RM are in need of a goal.

1 player who won’t be starting the final is Militao, he certainly hasn’t looked great since returning, Rudiger and Nacho if fit, will be starting the final, and I hope both start against Real Betis this weekend to give them a warm up. We do have some question marks going into next season in the defence now, with Nacho most probably leaving as things stand, with Alaba and Militao returning from big injuries, it leaves us with only 1 guarantee next year in Rudiger. I do hope the club brings back Rafa Marin to give him a chance.

I do like that Mario Martin has been getting some game time recently. I don’t hold too much hope he will be with us next season if Nico Paz can’t even get game time. But with Ceballos most probably leaving, I’d love to see his spot in the squad taken up by an academy player.

Don’t have too much to say about the game as I’m not reading too much into our performances in these last league games as there could be many factors into any bad performances that there are, and so far we have been steamrolling teams. We played some lovely attacking football against Villarreal, and with a back 4 consisting of LV at RB, Militao at CB, and Garcia at LB ( who I thought had a good game), Valverde and Ceballos as the 2 deeper defensive midfielders, I won’t be overreacting.

I think whoever starts in goal this weekend against Real Betis will be the GK for the final. Got a suspicion it will unfairly be Courtois. Lunin deserves better.

1 more game to go and then onto the big 1. Just hope for no injuries this weekend.