Marc Cucurella aims to stand out in the Clásico with Real Madrid

Marc Cucurella heads into the Clásico with Real Madrid under pressure to change his start: the Spanish full-back is still searching for his best level, with 12 official games and 753 minutes, and no goals or assists.

His early run has been uneven. In La Liga he has appeared in nine matches (five starts) and has recovered 29 balls, while competition on the left side has affected his rhythm. Álvaro Carreras has shared starts, and against Leipzig Mourinho began with the youngster, with Cucurella coming on in the second half.

A start with constraints

Mourinho publicly backed him after the Roma game, when the Italian side repeatedly punished that flank with numerical advantages. In the press conference ahead of Sevilla, he asked: “¿Cucurella, que hizo un trabajo muy difícil, principalmente en el primer tiempo, no merece jugar?”. The Portuguese coach linked Cucurella’s role to the defensive demands created by the arrivals of Wesley, Soulé and Mancini.

The test against Barcelona

Now, facing Barcelona, Cucurella’s task is even tougher if Lamine Yamal starts. The forward is a Spain teammate who knows his tendencies from shared international success. For Cucurella, the Clásico is a chance to move beyond rotation and establish himself on Real Madrid’s left.