Three things we learned from Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid still need to do better at the back.

Real Madrid sure don’t seem to like keeping a clean sheet. Despite boasting some of the most potent attacking prowess in European football, Real Madrid are just plain leaky at the defensive end. Once again, against Getfae, Real Madrid were unable to keep a clean sheet.

With Keylor Navas out through injury, Zidane relied on Kiko Casilla to guard Madrid’s goal. Varane was also absent, having just returned from International duty. With Carvajal still out for a heart problem, that meant Achraf Hakimi at right-back, Marcelo at left-back, and Nacho at center-back alongside Sergio Ramos.

Interestingly enough, the best performance of the night probably came from the rookie first-teamer Achraf, who was a bundle of energy throughout the match and put in good work on both ends of the pitch.

It’s not that Real Madrid were terrible in defense in this match. But time after time, we see Real Madrid fail to keep their focus for the full 90 and concede a silly goal. It was no different against Getafe.

Marcelo was splayed out trying to cover two positions and allowed Getafe to break through. Nacho and Llorente failed to adequately communicate, and Llorente let the ball slip past him onto the foot of Jorge Molina, right into the back of the net. It looked like if it wasn’t a Molina goal, it could have just as easily been a Llorente own goal.

With Zidane making as many rotations as he does, it’s easy to understand how Madrid’s back line might suffer from some communication issues. Let’s hope Zidane can get those stupid mistakes drilled out of this Madrid squad by the business end of the season.