Real Madrid learn huge lesson in loss vs RB Leipzig

Real Madrid lost their first game of the season as RB Leipzig beat them 3-2 away in Germany, to end their unbeaten run. It is late October so Los Blancos should be commended for it. Sooner or later, they were going to be beaten and the Bundesliga giants are a very talented team, despite their poor start to the campaign.

That does not mean that there were not lessons to be taken from this game though. In fact, there were a number of big ones.

The biggest was the importance of the old guard to this side. A lot of Real Madrid’s success under the management of Carlo Ancelotti has depended upon their elite mentality to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat time after time. Unfortunately, on this occasion, they did not have their two most senior players available in Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, both missing through injury.

In their absence, Real Madrid did not play nearly as well, underlining the importance that they still hold in this team. If somebody had thought that Los Blancos could just phase them out and replace them with younger stars, it is not going to happen. They are the pillars of this team.

Injuries finally catch up to Real Madrid

Of course, Modric and Benzema were not the only stars missing on the night. Another one was their player of the season till now, Federico Valverde.

Valverde has been an unlikely source of goals this season and in red hot form. His shooting from distance almost feels like a cheat code these days, as he has managed to score one stunner after another throughout the campaign.

This does bring up one issue with this Real Madrid squad though and it is their lack of depth. That has prevented Ancelotti from rotating much and it is much more likely that players will pick up injuries when playing two times every week.

Real Madrid would be smart to make a couple of additions to their squad, even if not star players, those who can work as impact substitutes and start the odd game, to relieve some of the pressure from the regular starters.