Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

How Marco Asensio made history for Real Madrid: Five goals in five debuts

Marco Asensio's stunning late goal in Sunday's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup first leg win at Barcelona means the Real Madrid starlet has become the first player ever to score on his debut for any club in five different competitions.

Amid all the drama, including Cristiano Ronaldo's sending off for diving, Asensio hammered home a 25 yard shot to continue a remarkable record of scoring in his first game for Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey and now Spanish Super Cup.

"What [Asensio] is doing does not surprise me," Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said on Sunday night. "He is doing phenomenally well, has quality, breaks the lines, is fast, strikes the ball so well. This is nothing new for us. It is not easy to come into the game in the last 15 minutes, but every time he plays he makes the difference."

Here's a look back at how the 21-year-old, a €3.7 million signing from Real Mallorca back in 2014, has made history.

1. European Super Cup

Asensio's first competitive game for Madrid was last August's European Super Cup against Sevilla -- after he had impressed Zidane during preseason and was named in the side ahead of €80m James Rodriguez.

The midfielder did not take long to show the wisdom in that decision, seizing on a bouncing ball 30 yards out and swerving an unstoppable shot to the top corner. Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico did not even move as the ball flew past him to the net to make it 1-0 to the Champions League holders.

Having spent the previous season on loan at Espanyol, Asensio had announced to everyone that he was ready for the big time with Madrid.

2. La Liga

Asensio's preseason showings kept him in the Madrid side for the 2016-17 La Liga opener at Real Sociedad, with stars including Cristiano Ronaldo being eased back post Euro 2016.

He quickly showed that the Super Cup goal had been no flash in the pan. Just before half-time at Anoeta he took a touch to control Raphael Varane's long ball over the top, and then casually lifted the ball over goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli to make it 2-0 to Madrid. Two games, two golazos, to start the new campaign.

3. Champions League

Asensio's first Champions League game did not come until Oct. 18, at home to Legia Warsaw at the Bernabeu.

The remarkable debut run was kept going when Ronaldo laid the ball back into his path, and he calmly steered a left-foot shot to the net from 15 yards. The finish was less spectacular this time, but Legia goalkeeper Arkadiusz Malarz was given no chance by the shot.

4. Copa del Rey

A week later, Asensio was one of the more experienced players in a rotated Madrid side that travelled to third tier La Cultural y Deportivo Leonesa for a Copa del Rey last-32 first leg.

The script did not change though, as he got on the scoresheet early by controlling Lucas Vazquez's low cross, and knocking the ball home calmly from 15 yards. His second strike of the night was more spectacular -- another long range effort fired home via a post in the second half as La Cultural's challenge crumbled.

By this point Asensio already had six goals in his first 11 appearances for Madrid, making him the team's top scorer at the time.

And although Zidane continued to use him carefully as the season progressed, he finished the campaign by coming off the bench to score in the Champions League final against Juventus, making it 10 goals in 38 games in all.

5. Spanish Super Cup

Even with Madrid 2-1 ahead and a man down following Ronaldo's sending off on Sunday at the Camp Nou, Asensio did not think of going to the corner flag to run down the clock when Lucas Vazquez played the ball into his path on the counter-attack.

Instead he used the pace to keep clear of marker Gerard Pique, and then let fly from the edge of the area, arrowing a rising shot right into the top corner. Although it was from an angle, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen was well positioned, the Barca goalkeeper had no chance due to the power and precision of his shot which nicked the crossbar on its way in.

"Lucas gave me the pass and I felt strong," Asensio said on Spanish TV afterwards. "I took on the centre-back [Pique], saw the goal clearly and shot. The ball went in, and it went well. Another goal on debut, so I am happy."

6. World Club Cup?

Given Madrid's fantastic options in attack, Asensio is still likely to spend plenty of time on the bench as the season progresses.

His next chance to make history should come in December's World Club Cup in the United Arab Emirates, and you would not bet against him making it six from six if he gets a chance there.

^ Back to Top ^