The Real Champs
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Real Madrid: 3 reasons to be worried about the Man. City clash

By Nithanth Ravindran

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 25: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid smiles ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Manchester City at Valdebebas training ground on February 25, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 25: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid smiles ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Manchester City at Valdebebas training ground on February 25, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 18: (L-R) Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid, Toni Kroos of Real Madrid, Raphael Varane of Real Madrid, Casemiro of Real Madrid, Gareth Bale of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on December 18, 2019 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 18: (L-R) Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid, Toni Kroos of Real Madrid, Raphael Varane of Real Madrid, Casemiro of Real Madrid, Gareth Bale of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on December 18, 2019 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

3) Defensive cracks

Real Madrid has had offensive issues ever since Cristiano Ronaldo departed. That has been clear ever since last season. But this season, Los Blancos have still managed to win and remain in La Liga title race. And it’s all thanks to their impressive defensive scheme.

The Whites are one of the sides to have conceded the fewest goals this season, even having the best defense in La Liga ahead of even Atletico Madrid. This defensive performance has been impressive, to say the least. Los Blancos have eked out a lot of 1-0 or 2-1 wins this term.

But ever since the Copa del Rey game vs Real Sociedad, where they conceded four, Madrid has looked a bit frail. They conceded four goals in the next three games and counting the Sociedad game, that makes eight goals in four games. This defensive record is a far cry away from what we have seen from the team this season.

It’s not just the goals conceded that’s worrying. The entire team looks a little bit more panicky and frail on defense. The Sociedad game seems to have mentally affected them in some way and caused these cracks to appear.

Can Gareth Bale be the hero against City?. dark. Next

It’s worrisome and something that Zinedine Zidane needs to fix soon for Madrid to have a chance at victory vs Manchester City.

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