Real Madrid: 3 takeaways from a Raphael Varane-inspired win over Huesca

Raphael Varane is the man for Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos could miss several weeks, as he needs knee surgery, putting Real Madrid in another awkward spot injury-wise. The captain has been missing for a few recent matches due to the injury, so both the center back and right back positions have been spread thin.

With Ramos out against Huesca, Raphael Varane needed to step up yet again. He’s been so good this season defensively whenever Ramos is out, and his display against Huesca’s lively attacking duo of Rafa Mir and Shinji Okazaki was no exception.

But what mattered the most to Real Madrid was the leadership, including in the attacking end. How many times have we seen Ramos step up with the clutch goal?

Well, Varane stepped up with TWO clutch goals against Huesca. Both goals were from about one-yard in front of goal, but they were great examples of poaching, instincts, and, yes, leadership from the French center back.

Real Madrid needed a hero to get them through Huesca, who were playing out of their minds in their own stadium. And while the likes of Benzema fell a little short of our expectations in the final third, Varane was there to make sure Real got the back over the goal line and won.