Real Madrid Winning over fans, manager and teammates

Four long months of competition have passed, and there is at least one piece of good news for Real Madrid.

His name is Lucas Vázquez, and he received the appreciation of the Bernabéu fans on Wednesday - something that he will remember for many years to come. He received a standing ovation when he came onto the field of play to replace Benzema, and his goal, which secured a hard-fought win over Real Sociedad, produced an outpouring of jubilation in the stands as they celebrated with the home-grown player.

However, beyond this specific instance, there can be no denying that Lucas has won over not just the fans, but also his teammates and his coach, Rafa Benítez. A graduate of Real's academy, he knows exactly what sort of values a La Fábrica product is expected to demonstrate: commitment, humble hard work and team spirit. In the dressing room he does not impose his voice over the others, even though his status is growing - endorsed by the Bernabéu faithful, who are happy with what they have seen from one of their players.

He was recalled from his spell at Espanyol in the summer for a million euros and has become Benítez's star pupil. He has now played in 10 league games, three in the Champions League and one in the cup. Besides netting his first goal for the club, he has also provided five assists, four of them for Cristiano Ronaldo, his preferred strike partner.