Real Madrid were always likely to have a number of heroes on the night that they beat Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou, but arguably the most impressive was from Eduardo Camavinga.
Thibaut Courtois made an inspired save, Karim Benzema notched a hat-trick, and Vincius Junior was spellbinding on the night. Yet their brilliance has almost become a standard they have set.
Meanwhile Camavinga, still just 20 years of age, put in his own stellar performance from left-back, playing out of position. He did not just cover as the left-sided defender, he stood out.
Raphinha and Ferran Torres could not escape his clutches all game, as he made the right side of the pitch a vortex for Barcelona, where the ball went but never came out.
Not only was he strong defensively, Camavinga did not misplace a single pass.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti maintains he is still just an emergency option at left-back to Diario AS, but it is becoming increasingly clear that regardless of where, he will be playing.
“He is very young, he is in a very good moment, either as a pivot, as a full-back… He is getting used to it, he played the duel against Raphinha very well. Like the others, he has had a top game. He is an option at full-back in emergency situations, yes. But he does it very well.”
Marca had plenty of praise for Camavinga too in their player ratings.
“He started again as a left back to the detriment of Nacho. Physical problems as soon as he started, from which he recovered before putting in another outstanding performance as a left-sided full-back. At this point it is unknown if he is better as a pivot than as a full-back. Huge game out of position for the Frenchman, who continues to grow exponentially in Madrid. Big words.”
Ahead of their tie against Chelsea next week, Ancelotti will be forced to think long and hard about where he uses the French protege.