Real Madrid could not muster any goals against Atletico Madrid, but the positive is that they recorded their third straight clean sheet despite playing in a hostile environment at the Wanda.
While Zinedine Zidane knows that he has to get more out of the Real Madrid attack, specifically top-class summer signing Eden Hazard, he has to be beyond pleased with the defenses continued brilliance. Even without Marcelo or Ferland Mendy fit, Real recorded a third straight clean sheet behind an emphatic performance at left back from veteran utility man Nacho Fernandez.
Nacho was one of the standouts for Real, dealing well with the treat of Atletico Madrid’s right back Kieran Trippier. He played a huge role in another clean sheet for Thibaut Courtois, who can now say he recorded two this week after not holding an opponent to zero goals since February.
Of course, Nacho was far from Real’s only impressive performer on Saturday night, as others on defense stepped up to the challenge of defending the likes of Diego Costa, Vitolo, Thomas Partey, Trippier, and teenage phenom Joao Felix.
Here were the top five players for Real Madrid in their 0-0 draw away against Atletico. And, yes, the focus is on the defense once again.