One facet of their game where Real Madrid will be keen to improve is that of the direct freekicks. They’re not the most important aspect of a team’s play, but could serve to unblock games.
Without Sergio Ramos or Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch, David Alaba could be the player who will be assigned with the task to take Real Madrid‘s freekicks next season.
Ronaldo had scored 33 of the 444 freekicks he took at Los Blancos, with Gareth Bale netting four of 70 and Ramos finding the back of the net twice in 27 attempts.
Karim Benzema took over from Ramos last season, when the Real Madrid captain was sidelined, but the former Bayern Munich defender could be a candidate to take most of the dead balls this year, especially the ones outside the box.
Alaba has already demonstrated how skilful he is when it comes to stepping up for direct freekicks in the team’s training sessions in Valdebebas and Real Madrid‘s coaching staff are confident ahead of the upcoming campaign, where Bale and Benzema could be the other main candidates to take the role of freekick taker.
Alaba’s freekicks in training
Following Ronaldo‘s departure, Los Blancos have scored just four freekicks in 66 attempts, with Isco (vs Roma, with one in eight attempts), Dani Ceballos (vs Real Betis, in his only attempt), Ramos (vs Real Mallorca, with one in 11 attempts) and Toni Kroos (vs Barcelona, with one in four attempts) being the four players to have found the back of the net.
Meanwhile, Bale failed 15 times since Ronaldo‘s exit, while Benzema and Marco Asensio were unable to score seven times each and Casemiro missed on six occasions.
On the other hand, Alaba has scored 10 direct freekicks in 124 attempts, although last season he failed in seven attempts. His best tally was in 2014/15, with three goals from 12 efforts. The Austria international scores once every 12.4 attempts, while Ronaldo netted once in every 13.4 and Bale every 17.5.
