Real Madrid were embarrassing in the first half of their 2-2 draw with Club Brugge, but four stars helped them find the goals they needed to muster a point in the table.
Clearly, Real Madrid’s 2019-2020 Champions League campaign isn’t going to plan. After losing 3-0 in their opener at the Parc des Princes against PSG, Real fell to a 2-0 deficit against Club Brugge, whom they were expected to trounce at the Bernabeu.
Instead, Real surrendered an early counterattack goal and then another via an uncharacteristic mistake from Luka Modric. Brugge had more chances to punish Real.
Los Blancos made adjustments at the half, subbing in Marcelo and Alphonse Areola, and looked calmer defensively. They managed to find the two goals they needed to rescue a point and stop “The Sky Is Falling” headlines from raining down on always-under-pressure manager Zinedine Zidane.
There are four players who deserve the biggest thanks for Real’s ability to fight past adversity and obtain a point against the upstarts. And those four players are the same four players who have been at the heart of everything good for Real Madrid this season.
Sergio Ramos. Casemiro. Toni Kroos. Karim Benzema.
These four veterans are among the best players at their positions in the world, and they have to be considered the four most important players at Real right now. It is no coincidence, then, that these were the players who either scored or assisted Real’s two goals.
Karim Benzema provided an inch-perfect cross for Ramos, who did brilliantly to stay onside, on the first goal. And the second goal came from Kroos whipping in a ball for Casemiro, who had a LOT to do to beat a “game” Simon Mignolet for the equalizer.
Throughout the season, Benzema has provided the goals to give Real critical wins, including recent victories over Levante and Sevilla. Not only is he one of La Liga’s top scorers, but the hard-working striker has also been busy creating more chances for his teammates than they have been creating for him. That was a common thread against Brugge after another underwhelming performance from Eden Hazard – and another embarrassing display from Lucas Vazquez.
Meanwhile, Ramos has been the lion in the center of Real’s defense. His return to the lineup after his suspension against PSG helped lead to three straight clean sheets for Real, and he’s been brilliant defensively. Though he slipped up against Brugge by waving for offsides instead of defending and later nearly gifting a 3-2 goal that Areola saved, all was forgiven when he gave Real hope with their first goal.
Kroos is a wizard in the middle of the pitch. He’s stepped up his game defensively, pressed effectively, provided some sexy longshots, and kept Real’s attack ticking with his typically picturesque passing. Somehow, some way, he finished with a whopping eight key passes and three successful dribbles in this game, per WhoScored.com.
And Casemiro. What words can be spilled for the impeccable genius in defensive midfield, who is the only player at the position for Real. The all-important Brazilian works overtime, providing sparks in attack while holding down the fort defensively, consistently covering up all the danger he sees. He couldn’t stifle every counterattack, much like against PSG and Levante earlier this campaign, but he still managed to make an impact today by finding the equalizer.
Real Madrid rely on these four men to bail them out when they need them or simply help carry them to victory. While the 2-2 draw to Brugge leaves a sour taste in the mouths of Real fans, it is important to also acknowledge the leaders in the club who stepped up and fought hard to save a point on a day when everything seemed to go wrong.