For the second straight game, Real Madrid held a previously undefeated team in La Liga to zero goals, and they did so with three completely different starters in the back four.
For the second straight La Liga contest, Real Madrid did not allow a single shot on target. Two straight games, zero shots for the goalkeeper to save. That is an incredible, even historical, mark, and one that provides a great deal of optimism for Los Blancos as the season heats up.
Perhaps Sergio Ramos makes that much of a difference. Real Madrid suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in the Champions League to PSG, who were missing all of their top three attackers. Ramos did not play that game due to a suspension.
But to say that Ramos is the reason why Real are now riding high on back-to-back clean sheets would be overlooking all of the other factors. He has undoubtedly helped, given that he’s been his typical world-class self in these contests against Sevilla and Osasuna.
However, praise has to go across the board. Zinedine Zidane changed his tactics to allow for more pressing and less exposure of the fullbacks. Casemiro has been intercepting everything in sight, as he recorded a combined eight tackles and interceptions vs. Osasuna, per WhoScored.com.
Last week, it was Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal who dazzled against a tough Sevilla team, but, this week, Eder Militao stole the show. The game’s official Man of the Match, Militao was impervious defensively, stifling every single one-on-one challenge that came his way.
The summer signing from FC Porto didn’t look like a youngster, nor did he look lacking in confidence as he did against PSG. No, Militao looked supremely in control, trusting his physical gifts and instincts tactically to deliver a masterful performance alongside the equally composed Sergio Ramos. Neither he nor Ramos put a foot wrong against an Osasuna side that was looking to maintain its streak of 16 consecutive games without a loss.
But the could do nothing against Real. They found it difficult enough to get past Los Blancos’ press. Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior both tracked back and harried Osasuna’s fullbacks, while Toni Kroos looked like a workhorse, quieting critics with some wonderful work off the ball.
Nacho Fernandez had a decent game at left back and Alvaro Odriozola made enough plays to show that he deserves more minutes from Zidane to give Dani Carvajal rest. However, the real stars were the men in the middle in Ramos, Militao, and the unquestionably important Casemiro.
It is remarkable how good Casemiro is at reading the game. He is one of the smartest holding midfielders in world football, consistently thwarting attacks before they can develop. Casemiro seems to always be in the right place at the right time, and he has the defensive chops to slide in and complete the toughest of tackles.
Real Madrid are sitting atop the table on Matchday 6 following a second straight clean sheet in which they gave up a total of zero shots on target. Alphonse Areola looked confident on the ball and excellent in the air, even making a one-handed snag, but anyone will admit that, like Courtois, he had an easy evening.
That’s how good Real’s defense is right now, and they are clicking at the right time with a Matchday 7 encounter with bitter rivals Atletico Madrid coming up. Facing Atleti away is no easy task, but Real have all the momentum right now.
Defense wins championships, and if Real can continue to build off of these performances, they may have the right formula there. And the PSG debacle will soon be a thing of the distant past – a learning moment that led to Real solidifying its talented defense into a finely-tuned machine on the pitch.