Real Madrid knew they needed to win vs. Borussia Monchengladbach, and they turned in a sublime performance, winning 2-0 at home. But what comes next?
Zinedine Zidane’s job is safe and Real Madrid are through to the Champions League Round of 16. And in the end, after all the drama and uncertainty, Los Blancos made it all look oh-so-easy at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Wednesday night with a 2-0 triumph over Borussia Monchengladbach. Really, the scoreline flatters the Foals, because Real were by far the better side for the 90 minutes.
Real Madrid had 12 more shots than Gladbach and over 300 more passes than their opponents, according to WhoScored.com. They owned the midfield, pressed like they never have before this season, and created glorious chances. Maybe they should have won by more than the two well-taken headed goals from Karim Benzema, but Yann Sommer isn’t an easy keeper to beat.
The celebrations cannot last long, though. Because on Saturday, Real Madrid must play host to an even more formidable opponent in first-place Atletico Madrid, who stand as the title favorites in Spain’s top flight.
Here are five burning questions for Real Madrid following their massive win over Gladbach and before the all-important Derbi this weekend, which could play a significant role in shaping the title race over the final months of the 2020-2021 La Liga campaign.