Real Madrid: 5 burning questions after 1-0 win over Sevilla

Is Zinedine Zidane about to lose his job?

Here’s another big-picture question for Madridistas. We would all like to think that the 2020-2021 season has been a bad dream, but Real Madrid are in legitimate trouble. We have not seen a Madrid team play this poorly in ages. They don’t even look like La Liga title contenders in comparison to Atletico Madrid or even Real Sociedad. And they are a poor performance against Gladbach away from tumbling into the Europa League – or worse. It would be an unthinkable slip for Real Madrid, and the consequences could be grave for Zinedine Zidane.

For all Zidane has accomplished in his past as both a player and coach for Los Blancos, it could all come down to 90 minutes at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano against the Bundesliga’s fourth-best club. Those are the stakes Zidane and Real face on the sixth Matchday of the Champions League. It could all come crumbling down, but you can bet that Zidane will do everything he possibly can to make sure Real Madrid weather the storm. Not even for himself, but for this great club.

Will Sergio Ramos give Real Madrid the lift they require?

We have all seen the statistics. Real Madrid rarely perform well without Sergio Ramos. But a couple of weeks ago, they produced a display that was an exception by shutting down Inter Milan 2-0 with Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez at center back.

Sure, they benefited a lot from Arturo Vidal’s childish red card. (Seriously, why do Inter even waste money on this guy?) But Varane and Nacho deserve a whole lot of credit. They are, like Ramos, veterans of the game who give their all for this club. Varane has stepped up so much as a leader with Ramos injured, and he has done so amidst questions about his status as a superstar. There should be no questions now.

Nacho was an inspiration in that win over Inter, running all over the place and even bombing into the box like Ramos to give his team a headed attacking option. We have seen Nacho run faster than ever before, and while his passing is a liability (especially in comparison to Ramos’ elite ball-playing ability), he makes up for his weaknesses with sheer determination.

However, determination only goes so far. And even in that department, who can match Ramos’ iron will? His resume of winning goals and moments for Los Blancos speaks for itself. His quality on the ball, on set pieces, and in front of goal are unmatched at center back. If any single player can save Real Madrid and Zizou, then it is No. 4.