Real Madrid kicked off their La Liga title defence with a 3-0 win away to Deportivo. From Benzema and Bale to Ramos madness, there were plenty of takeaways from this game. Here are the three big ones:
An Efficient Display
After Real Madrid’s glimmering performance against Barcelona, it would have been easy to expect Los Blancos to play in a similar fashion against an improved, but, still rather average Deportivo team. Instead, Madridistas were treated to an efficient display from the All Whites in a game that they didn’t dominate but deserved to win.
There were 44 passes in the build-up for Casemiro's goal, the most before a goal in La Liga since at least 2006/07. [@OptaJose] pic.twitter.com/QLx4T3fNXZ
— Infinite Madrid (@InfiniteMadrid) August 20, 2017
To their credit, the hosts did put on a good display and challenged the back four, with Keylor Navas being called in for a few heroic saves and a fantastic penalty save in the dying minutes of the game. Zidane will hope for more performances like these, knowing full well that fancy flicks won’t win him another La Liga crown.
Benzema and Bale worked it out
Zidane’s experimental duo has divided opinion throughout the preseason, but, put in one of their best displays yet last night.
In Ronaldo absence, Zidane has turned to Benzema and Bale to lead the line. The duo put in a rather average display in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana. Their selection for last night game was questioned by fans yesterday. Fortunately, B&B relieved some pressure with a solid performance at the Riazor.
Gareth Bale opened the scoring and both Benzema and Bale combined for Kroos’s goal right at the end. Off the ball, both players worked hard and pressed Deportivo’s backline. It will be encouraging for both manager and fans alike to see B&B building chemistry with Ronaldo likely to see a lot of the bench this season.
Sergio Ramos sees red
Ramos picked up yet another red card- although undeservedly- last night. Real Madrid’s captain picked up his first yellow card when it appeared that he slapped Fabian Schar in the face.
The Spanish defender was then booked a second time under the most bizarre of circumstances. Ramos won fairly won the air, somehow the referee deemed the header to be a foul and sent the 31-year-old off.
I have an unpopular opinion on the affair, despite the second yellow being a massive blunder by the referee, I have to question why Ramos got booked in the first place. There was no need for him to get involved with Fabian Schar in the first place, let alone escalate the situation.
It’s the Madrid’s captain 18th La Liga red card, a large black stain on Sergio Ramos legacy. Even more presently concerning is Ramos ignorance on the topic in the post game interview claiming “Not everyone likes that Madrid is successful” a type of paranoia that I am more accustomed to hearing from Gerard Pique. Despite the second yellow being unjust, Ramos has only himself to blame if he misses Madrid next game.
Next: Real Madrid player ratings from the LaLiga opener