Champions League: Three takeaways from Real Madrid's dramatic draw with Mönchengladbach

Champions League: Three takeaways from Real Madrid’s dramatic draw with Mönchengladbach

By Ben Sundock | Oct 28, 2020

MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 27: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Karim Benzema of Real Madrid and Rodrygo of Real Madrid gesture during the UEFA Champions League Group B stage match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Real Madrid at Borussia-Park on October 27, 2020 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /

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Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /

Start slow, finish fast

The theme through the first handful of matches this season is that Real Madrid simply cannot get off to a hot start. Referencing El Clasico again, though Valverde scored five minutes in, Zidane’s men allowed an Ansu Fati goal not five minutes later.

Today, there were few chances in the first 10 minutes, several over the course of the next 20 minutes, and then Mönchengladbach scored on the counter. Real Madrid tends to control the flow of the game from the off, but has failed to actually control it.

Next. Five burning questions after loss to Shakhtar Donetsk. dark

Can this team get an early goal (or two) and play with a comfortable lead? Nothing would bring a smile to my face like that. These frantic finishes scoring in the 80th minute or later is not as much fun as winning easily and enjoying the match.

Could all Zidane’s tinkering with the starting XI be affecting that cohesion and ability to hit the ground running?

Stay tuned to The Real Champs for more Real Madrid coverage.

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