Real Madrid: 5 takeaways from a lethargic 0-0 draw vs. Villarreal

Real Madrid and Villarreal played out a 0-0 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on LaLiga’s Matchday 7. In truth, Los Blancos can be happy that they managed to get a point out of this match – though, of course, Real are never satisfied with only one point – because they were outplayed during many stretches of this match. Without a few key defensive performances, they would have lost this match by multiple goals.

Whereas Real Madrid showed fluid attacking in their other league encounters, they were out of ideas and slow to attack, just like last season. It was a step backwards for Real, and Madridistas were left asking questions of Carlo Ancelotti’s pre and in-game tactical decisions.

Here are five takeaways from Real’s disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Unai Emery’s Villarreal.

Carlo Ancelotti made a foolish mistake at left back

We have seen Nacho Fernandez start at left back a couple of times this season, and there is actually some logic in starting him at this position in one specific scenario. And that scenario is when Eden Hazard starts on the right side of the attack in a drifting “free role”, forcing Fede Valverde wide. The right back also shifts, meaning Nacho can tuck in to make the formation unbalanced.

But normally, the Real Madrid 4-3-3 requires fullbacks who can attack and overlap. This team needs ball carriers who can quickly transition back in defense. And ideally, these fullbacks can cross.

Nacho is not a player who can do any of these things. He is slow. He is not able to win one-on-ones. And he cannot cross with his left from the left-hand side consistently.

When Real do not have enough attacking contributions from the fullbacks, it sets the attackers up to fail against better defensive sides. Look at Vinicius Junior, for example. This was his most subdued performance of the season. There are other reasons for this, but one reason was Nacho’s inability to stretch Villarreal or provide a wide attacking threat that enabled Vini to have the space to make penetrative runs. Vini was isolated and stuck, even losing repeated one-on-ones to Juan “Elbow” Foyth, of all players.

Ancelotti decided to start Nacho over Miguel Gutierrez, perhaps for defensive solidity. He got none of that solidity from Nacho, who was exposed badly. Nacho was the worst player in Real Madrid’s back four on Saturday night. And as you’d expect, he offered nothing to the attack. Strike one for Ancelotti.