Well, that wasn’t the result I wanted to see. Real Madrid fell 1-0 to Real Betis at home, making it zero wins in three home matches to start the season. Let’s look at the three takeaways from the match.
Zinedine Zidane has a problem on his hands
As the sun rises Thursday, Real Madrid will see themselves in 7th place in the league. This, of course, is a shockingly horrible start to the league campaign after winning both the UEFA Super Cup over Manchester United in early August and the Spanish Super Cup over FC Barcelona.
Plain and simple, manager Zidane has a problem on his hands in just five matches. You may be saying, what is the problem with Real Madrid right now? That’s the problem.
That’s the problem. I’m not sure and I think Zidane isn’t sure either.
Just three days ago in San Sebastian, Real looked calm and dominant over a Real Sociedad team that had won three matches in a row in the league. However, today against a Real Betis side that had yet to play well on the road came into the Santiago Bernabéu and pulled out a late winner.
It was good to have Ronaldo back, yes, but the man who usually thrives in these types of matches looked off all night.
Zinedine Zidane was an absolute disaster tonight.
— Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) September 20, 2017
I think one of the main problems for Madrid has been not having CR7 in the squad for these first games. Plus, with no Karim Benzema, Real Madrid resorted to starting Ronaldo and Gareth Bale as the two center forwards.
Zidane has been masterful when managing this team in the past almost two years, he might have his toughest challenge yet at the beginning of this season.
Dani Carvajal and Marcelo aren’t themselves right now
I want to apologize in advance for my analysis of this section. It’s clear to me from watching the preseason and his play early in league play that Dani Carvajal is not himself. Not even remotely close.
We as Real Madrid fans have become so accustomed to seeing Dani and Marcelo bursting down the wings and helping on the attack while also playing great defense. Especially today, Carvajal played terrible going forward.
In the first half alone, there were at least three occasions when Dani blundered a dribble, or couldn’t handle a long pass from the midfield that he uses touches down to his right foot with ease.
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The most notable of these blunders was when he was sprinting forward into the box and was sent a long ball over the top and tried to settle it down in stride, and simply pushed it out off the end of his cleat.
Marcelo did a good job trying to create chances down his usual left wing but didn’t link up as well with Ronaldo, which I think was one of the main problems.
Marcelo also looked tired out early in the second half. He did take a good amount of contact and fouls in this match, but still, it’s THE Marcelo!
It was also frustrating to see Carvajal and Marcelo try so many crosses into the box, with none of them creating any real chances. This may have been in Zidane’s game plan, but it’s hard to believe that many crosses were tried.
They didn’t work in the first half, they didn’t work in the second half. Frustrating.
Lacking depth at striker is showing already
The takeaway from this match that grinds my gears the most is this one.
I was an Alvaro Morata advocate through and through and wanted him to stay over Benzema so badly.
Today was a perfect time for the super substitute Morata to come on and score the game-winning goal like he did time and time again last season. Instead, it was Borja Mayoral who came on as the extra attacking player pushing for the winning goal.
Mayoral has gotten on my nerves with his inability to assert himself in matches like Morata did and it is already coming back to bite Real Madrid in the butt.
If I were Florentino Perez, my first priority in the January window would be to sign a promising, young striker who would be okay playing second fiddle to Benzema for a couple seasons.
There is just way too much pressure on Ronaldo to score every goal and so far, that is not a logical way to play a match.
It’s only the fifth match of the league season, there are still 33 matches to play, so it’s not panic mode yet, but if Real can’t win their next home match in LaLiga, it might be time to start freaking out.
Next: Real Madrid 0 – 1 Real Betis – Quick take / hot take reaction to Madrid’s disastrous loss