Real Madrid did not just lose 4-1 to Valencia on Sunday. No, it was mistakes from veteran players and lackadaisical defense led to their demise as they fell for the second time in La Liga this season.
There are times when writing and following Real Madrid is very infuriating and this is one of those times. In an important match heading into the international break (yuck), Los Blancos quite simply were not up to their paces.
After what was thought to be a momentum building win for Zinedine Zidane’s men in the Champions League early last week, Real Madrid defeated themselves, soundly.
Despite tallying four times, Valencia did not score from open play. They were awarded four penalties (making three and missing one) and were gifted the second goal of the match in the 43rd minute after Raphael Varane bumbled the ball over the line.
Here are the three takeaways.
The fullback problem
Marcelo’s appearance on Sunday made it nine straight games since Real Madrid last won when he was on the field. The Brazilian has suffered severely from a dip in form over the last season and a half and it seems that the transition from Marcelo to Ferland Mendy is going to be a permanent one very soon.
Marcelo at 32 looks out of place in the squad now and has been the weak link in defending the counter attack more than once. Had Mendy started this match, maybe Real could’ve scrounged a draw.
However, I am not here to say everything he did in this game was bad. He set up Karim Benzema for the lone Real Madrid goal and looked energetic and crafty with the ball moving forward in the first half hour.
No, the problems began to arise when Los Blancos went down 2-1. Marcelo looked to be doing too much and was whistled for fouling Maxi Gomez right in front of his goalkeeper, leading to Valencia’s third penalty attempt of the night.
On the opposite wing, Lucas Vazquez struggled all night to keep up with the Valencia players and looked worlds away from the form he exhibited in the win over Inter Milan. Vazquez was called for the first handball of the match and was subsequently whistled for encroaching on the penalty area before the kick was taken.
I am sure many of you are like me and are counting down the days and seconds until Dani Carvajal is back healthy.