First Half
Real Madrid were content to circulate possession throughout much of the first half, keeping the ball but infrequently penetrating Leganes defense. Real Madrid tried to play a number of lobbed balls over the top but the passes rarely found their target.
Zidane was forced into making a surprise substitution early in the first half, as Jesus Vallejo went down clutching his hamstring. That’s a huge blow for the player, who has looked good for Madrid in his appearances since recovering from an injury earlier this season.
The first half became a tough, physical affair. Carvajal got away with a rough tackle that could have been a yellow card. Leganes weren’t so lucky, getting a yellow card for Nabil El Zhar. There probably could have been three or four more yellow cards had the ref not been content to let the game unfold.
This lead to a stifled, uneventful affair. Real Madrid dominated possession, 70-30, but only managed to produce three shots, none of which were on target. Madrid went into halftime tied nil-nil with Leganes. Zidane needed to come up with a solution at half-time, something he has rarely been able to do this season.