Real Madrid needed to deliver a thoroughly professional performance on Wednesday night at the Ramon de Carranza after dropping points over the weekend against Getafe. With a target on their back following Florentino Perez’s ill-advised European Super League attempt, Los Blancos had added motivation beyond their desire to avenge an early-season upset to Cadiz.
Zinedine Zidane’s men rose to the occasion, as they scored three goals in the first half en route to a 3-0 win.
Here are three takeaways from the big win.
Antonio Blanco already has Madridista hearts
Real Madrid fans were impressed with Antonio Blanco’s encouraging half-hour off the bench against Getafe, as he played very well defensively for Los Blancos as they kept a clean sheet. Blanco got the start against Cadiz and repaid Zinedine Zidane’s trust by delivering an excellent performance in the middle of the park next to Casemiro.
Blanco started the game with confidence, taking a shot from well beyond the box that was deflected for a corner. He wasn’t afraid to take defenders on and showed some nifty skills and touches. As expected, the Castilla man defended competently and was a part of Real’s latest clean sheet effort.
According to WhoScored.com, Blanco had three interceptions, two blocked shots, and completed 93 percent of his 56 pass attempts.
Those are excellent numbers. Blanco is a composed midfielder who is an asset defensively. Madridistas should be looking forward to more starts from him, and many, of course, had already been asking Zidane to give him opportunities. Clearly, he’s earned them now.
The back three pays dividends
Ever since Zinedine Zidane first used the back three a couple of months ago against Getafe, Real Madrid have found success with this setup. They defeated Atalanta 3-1 in the Champions League with a back three, and now they can count their 3-0 win over Cadiz as their latest success with this formation.
Nacho Fernandez, Eder Militao, and the returning Raphael Varane started in a back three before the formation shifted again to accommodate a returning Dani Carvajal.
The back three gave Real defensive solidity with these excellent center backs, but, more importantly, it enabled Real to avoid playing Marcelo and Alvaro Odriozola as fullbacks in a back four. Both players were awful, again, this weekend against Getafe, but they played well at Cadiz.
Marcelo actually led the team with five tackles, as he is a more positive defensive presence when he is winning the ball high up the pitch as opposed to defending and covering. Meanwhile, Odriozola scored a rare goal, heading an easy one created by Karim Benzema.
Real Madrid were not threatened by Cadiz in this one, and their tactical setup enabled them to play free-flowing attacking football in a three-goal first half without sacrificing any defensive stability. Good stuff, Zizou.
Karim Benzema masterclass
Real Madrid gave Karim Benzema some well-earned rest in the second half for the disastrous Mariano Diaz, but the game was already well-won by then. And that’s largely thanks to Benzema, who was the obvious choice for Man of the Match after a tremendous opening 40 minutes in which he scored twice and assisted once.
His first goal was a well-struck penalty won by Vinicius Junior. His second was a header created by the unselfish Casemiro. And his assist was the best of the bunch, as he did well to create space for his cross and then lofted a world-class ball with his left foot to Alvaro Odriozola at the back post. And Odriozola had no choice but to score.
The ingenious No. 9 even came close to a hat trick, just missing from a free kick. It was another tremendous performance from Benzema, who now has one more goal than Spanish international Gerard Moreno and is just two behind the leader of the Pichichi race, ultra-rival Lionel Messi.
Benzema had three shots on target and two key passes in a commanding performance at the Ramon de Carranza. And he got his rest in the end, which is important with Real Betis and Chelsea coming up. The No. 9 is Real’s MVP and a prime Player of the Year candidate.
Real Madrid do it without their superstar midfielders
Real Madrid did not have Luka Modric and Toni Kroos available. The last time both players were out, they were rested to start the match against Elche before the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 vs. Atalanta. The result? Real barely won 2-1, and only after Modric and Kroos’ day of rest had to be altered. Los Blancos were down 1-0 before the duo was subbed into the match!
In this game, Modric and Kroos needed to be rested. That was non-negoitable. There was no backup plan for either player. Casemiro and Antonio Blanco, therefore, started in midfield, with Isco eventually getting some run in midfield in the second half.
Blanco and Casemiro were both tremendous. I already praised Blanco heavily, so let’s talk about the still-underrated Brazilian. Casemiro had the assist for Benz, and he led the team in pass attempts. As usual, Case was solid defensively, too.
Benzema’s importance to the team was clear, but it was great to see how the wide players like Rodrygo Goes stepped up to help make up for the losses of Kroos and Modric in the chance-creation department.
Real Madrid needed to win this game convincingly without Kroos and Modric. And this time, they did not disappoint. That’s a huge takeaway from this result, because many, including myself, worried this team could not function without them. Yes, it was only Cadiz, but, well, Cadiz did beat them once and are not near the relegation fight. So this is still a result to applaud.