There were some missed opportunities and Real Betis had the lead at one point, but Real Madrid should be happy with their 3-2 win over Los Verdiblancos.
Earlier this year, Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin, so you can say that Madridistas were getting some flashbacks to that loss when midfielder William Carvalho made it 2-1 for the home side after another setup from former Madrid man Sergio Canales.
But in the end, Los Blancos were 3-2 winners, picking up their first win of the season after Matchday 2’s 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the match.
Raphael Varane is back to his best for Real Madrid
The final taste in Raphael Varane’s mouth from the 2019-2020 season wasn’t a pleasant one, as he had one of the worst games of his career in Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City.
But Varane, as expected, quickly bounced back with a calm performance against Alexander Isak and Real Sociedad.
He was even better against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin. Varane cut out so many plays inside the box, including one where he read the pass to Sergio Canales and moved in before the ball was played. While Varane didn’t intercept the pass, he got himself into the perfect position to close all of Canales’ options and avert disaster.
There were other examples where he cleaned up some messes that started in midfield, such as when Karim Benzema and Casemiro comically collided with each other, causing the ball to leak into the penalty box.
It’s always good to see Varane in his usual form, as he is one of the top three center backs in world football.
Real Madrid will have to be patient with Luka Jovic
One of the biggest talking points through the first 45 minutes of the match was Luka Jovic’s invisibility. Per WhoScored.com, the Serbian international finished the game with a meager six passes completed on 10 attempts, highlighting how little of the ball he saw.
Criticisms focused on Jovic’s work rate, as fans passed around photos of his heat map.
The problem is that this kind of analysis is lacking. In this game with two strikers up top and no wingers, it would have been a bad idea for Jovic to “work harder” by dropping deep like Benzema. Because if Benzema is already doing that, Real Madrid become too compact vertically and have too many bodies taking up space in the middle of the pitch.
Jovic did the right thing. He made subtle movements off the ball, playing off the shoulders of the defenders and looking to get open. His work paid off, too. Jovic’s movement disrupted Betis’ back line, leading to Dani Carvajal’s cross and Emerson’s own goal. And Jovic drew a red card from Emerson when he was through on goal, which helped change the game in Real Madrid’s favor.
There will be games where Jovic does little-to-nothing. He is a different player from Borja Mayoral, who came into the game for Jovic and immediately starting running nonstop. But that doesn’t mean Jovic is less effective. He’s just different, and he needs time. Give him that time before making a judgment, but, on the other hand, don’t be afraid to point out aspects of his game where he could improve. For example, there was one moment where he played an amateur-level cross on a breakaway, gifting possession to Betis.
Isco changed the game for Real Madrid
I’ve said it before, and I’m going to say it again. When Isco is on the pitch for Real Madrid and in form, Los Blancos are a much, much better team. He showed this when he led a comeback win in Pamplona earlier this season and in both Clasicos. And Isco changed the game again as a substitute in this Saturday’s win over Real Betis.
No goals and no assists? A missed chance? Those basic observations shroud the ingenious ball-carrying and vision of the center midfielder. Isco means so much to Real Madrid when he’s in his element, because he transitions into attacks and keeps the ball moving progressively. Los Blancos miss that badly when he’s not around, and he injected new life into the team in the second half with his clever movement.
Both Isco and Martin Odegaard are very different players, but they both fit the kinds of things Zinedine Zidane asks in ways that allow them to co-exist. Both players have roles to play for Real Madrid in this long, grueling season. Last week, Odegaard was one of the stars of the show in San Sebastian. This weekend in Sevilla, it was Isco’s turn to shake things up.
It says a lot that in multiple road games this season, Isco has been the guy to turn things around by pulling the strings. I hope the few Madridistas who were criticizing him or pining for James Rodriguez think twice about undervaluing the 28-year-old.
Fede Valverde gives Real Madrid his all
Isco changed the game, Karim Benzema had an excellent first half, Thibaut Courtois made one big stop, and the center backs were world-class for a second straight game. But if you ask most Madridistas, they will single out Fede Valverde as the clear Man of the Match for Real Madrid against Real Betis.
Valverde opened the scoring by depositing Benzema’s cross into the back of the net, and that was Real’s only goal from open play that wasn’t an own goal, in spite of all the chances he created. Although Valverde should have added another late in the match on a solo run, he should still get praise for creating that chance.
The width Valverde provided on the right was impressive, and he’s shown he can play that wide midfield role so well. He’s become more than just a box-to-box midfielder for Real Madrid, and he wasn’t even restricted to the right side of the field. When Valverde started the move for his goal, for example, he was in the center of the pitch, making a tough turn to keep possession. And on that missed opportunity late in the game, he popped up on the left side.
Valverde led the team with three dribbles completed and two key passes. He also tied Casemiro with the team lead with three interceptions. The young Uruguayan is always at his best in these wild, fast-paced games, where he uses his athleticism and energy to just burn the opponent out.
Don’t focus on Karim Benzema’s misses
Karim Benzema missed a couple of golden opportunities for Real Madrid in this game, and that frustrated fans since he also missed a sitter last week in the goalless draw.
But as a whole, Benzema had a very good game, even including the misses. Criticisms of Benzema’s performance would also involve his many offsides calls and some sloppy giveaways, including when dropping deep.
That said, Real Madrid would not have won this game without Benzema. He was one of the most important players on the pitch. Benzema put in so much work in the attack, especially in the first half, dropping deep and creating chances with his passing. The first goal was a huge credit to Benzema’s elite dribbling skills, as it’s hard to think of many No. 9’s in world football who could have created that chance for Fede Valverde.
Benzema had two dribbles completed and two fouls drawn, so the stats don’t really flatter the 32-year-old star forward. However, his effort, intensity, and skill were there to see, and he was the main man causing problems in the final third for Los Blancos. It seems like he’s still a little rusty in front of goal, but once that sorts out, watch closely. Benzema didn’t score today, but a bevy of goals could be forthcoming, based on the sheer volume of chances he was involved in.