The Real Champs
Fansided

Five takeaways from Real Madrid’s first three La Liga games

By Ali Al Hassan

CORNELLA, SPAIN - AUGUST 28: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates goal 1-3 with David Alaba of Real Madrid, Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid, Rodrygo Silva de Goes of Real Madrid, David Alaba of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Espanyol v Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on August 28, 2022 in Cornella Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
CORNELLA, SPAIN - AUGUST 28: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates goal 1-3 with David Alaba of Real Madrid, Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid, Rodrygo Silva de Goes of Real Madrid, David Alaba of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Espanyol v Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on August 28, 2022 in Cornella Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

2. Courtois will always be Courtois

There is a silly argument that has been making the rounds since last season which focuses on how lucky Real Madrid have been to win the UEFA Champions League. The reason? Because Thibaut Courtois had to make a record number of saves in order to ensure that the team stayed in the game. One game that many pointed to is the final against Liverpool, which Real Madrid won 1-0 thanks to a Vinicius Junior goal. It’s also a game where Courtois had to make 9 saves before telling the public to “put respect on my name”.

However, saying that a team was lucky to win because the goalkeeper made a large amount of saves is like saying “Real Madrid are lucky to win because Karim Benzema scored three goals”. If a player scores a hat-trick, he’s praised. If a goalkeeper makes saves, it’s luck? Then why do teams pay so much for top goalkeepers?

Courtois ended last season as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the eyes of all of Europe, who finally got to see how incredible he truly is. Before that, only La Liga viewers really saw the magic. Best part though is that it looks like he plans to continue on that path this season as well.

Although Real Madrid only have one clean sheet in four games, which came before the league began as they beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup, this isn’t a fault of the Belgian goalkeeper. He has still continued to be decisive with arguably his best save coming from a close-range shot against Espanyol last weekend.

Everyone is expecting him to have another great season ahead.

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