Lucas Vázquez Emerges As Real Madrid's Unlikely Clásico Hero

Lucas Vázquez was involved in all three Real Madrid goals against Barcelona.

Midfield superstar Jude Bellingham has caught the eye with his eloquence and media training since making the move to Real Madrid. Plaudits have showered him with praise for his intricate explanations and insight into the life of one of soccer’s biggest stars. Yet his post on X following Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Barcelona might have been the most raw yet. He simply posted, “Lucas Vázquez you ****ing legend”.

Few could have seen Lucas being the hero coming. Second-choice at right-back behind Dani Carvajal, he is usually only included for such headline games when his team-mate isn't available. In this case, Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest Carvajal, giving Lucas what would be only his fourth full 90 minutes in the Clásico in nine years at the club.

Despite that, Lucas has long been the man for the big occasion. Just earlier this week, he showed his composure to come on as a substitute in extra-time and rifle home his penalty-kick in the victorious shoot-out against Manchester City.

That same experience would come into play on Sunday night's Clásico. Pau Cubarsí naively left a leg hanging in the box, and Lucas saw his chance to force the contact and go down and earn a spot kick, which Vinícius Júnior scored to level the tie.

Later on, Lucas would get himself on the scoresheet. It would be a move reminiscent of Ousmane Dembélé's strike against Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week, clearly taking advantage of a gap in João Cancelo's positioning to find space and score at the far-post. A similar move in injury time, when Lucas continued to clock up the miles and burst down the flank, allowed him to whip the ball across the face of goal for Jude Bellingham to tap in a winner for Real Madrid.

The cameras focused on Bellingham as he ran towards the fans, but he was headed towards his team-mate to link arms and dance as the two men who had combined to secure a crucial victory which gets one Real Madrid hand on the La Liga title.

Lucas is one of those figures at Real Madrid who add the character to the squad. Far from the superstars or Galácticos that boss the dressing room, he is one of the quiet leaders who will contribute in his own way, from the bench or simply with his presence.

“I always try to do the best I can and give my all and perform well. I always try to play as well as I can for myself and for everyone,” he reflected when speaking to the media before a Champions League tie with Union Berlin in December.

Even so, playing such a role is not easy for a player who could start for most top teams in Europe. The inconsistency has its drawbacks, as he himself has recognized, saying, “there are good moments and bad moments. When you aren’t getting minutes or you don’t feel important, you feel bad. You have to keep your head cool and train to the max, knowing that you’re capable and believing in yourself. I don’t lack that. I’m at Real Madrid, where I’ve always wanted to be, so I will give my all for myself and for my club.”

Not since 2014/15, when Lucas was loaned out for regular first team action to RCD Espanyol, has he played more than 2,000 minutes in La Liga. In the white of Real Madrid, his record remains at 1,850 minutes over the course of a league season in 2020/21.

However, whenever he's called upon, Lucas turns up. This is just the latest case where he has shown as much. Like his companion Nacho, who he played alongside for the club's B-team, Castilla, he has spent most of his career playing for the club he loves, accepting that he will never be its star, but thriving when he is most needed. Sunday night at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu was just the latest case in point.

The 32-year-old defender has changed his position from a pacey winger to a reliable full-back, but his future remains unclear as he enters the final months of his existing contract at Real Madrid.

In February, Relevo reported that Real Madrid was keen to make him an offer to extend his stay with the club, but two months on there has been no tangible progress in talks. Lucas himself has declared his love for the club publicly, but has not spoken openly on his future.

Real Madrid are looking to strengthen in defence this summer, where Dani Carvajal is already first choice, and Lucas may find himself even more on the periphery of the first-team picture. He will want to add to his 343 appearances for the club, but knows that the arrival of competition will prove a test, just as the likes of Álvaro Odriozola have in the past.

At the age of 32, he may be tempted to follow in the footsteps of Nacho, and look for a final contract in his career elsewhere to have a lucrative end to his career. What is clear from this Clásico is that Lucas still has what it takes to add real value to Real Madrid even on the biggest of occasions.