Mendy the shield: Just three goals conceded in 12 league appearances Real Madrid Replaced Marcelo as first choice

Ferland Mendy arrived at Real Madrid looking to challenge Marcelo and cool the doubts that the club had at left-back last season.

Calmly and quietly, the Frenchman has become Zinedine Zidane's go-to left-back, even when Marcelo is fit.

Mendy is set to play his first LaLiga Santander Madrid derby when Atletico Madrid visit the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday after watching Marcelo start the previous one ahead of him in September.

Zidane's trust in his compatriot has grown as the season has progressed, with Mendy starting 10 of Real Madrid's 23 LaLiga Santander games and he's missed just three league matches since the start of November.

This changing of the guard at left-back has its advantages.

With Mendy in the team, Real Madrid have conceded just three goals in the 913 minutes in the 12 LaLiga Santander matches he has played.

In all competitions, Mendy hasn't conceded a goal during his 625 minutes on the pitch since Real Madrid's visit to Club Brugge on December 11. He hasn't been playing for the four goals they've conceded since then.