It is three games without a loss, without conceding a goal and with must one shot coming close to the whole of Real Madrid’s goal post, amazing isn’t?
This is the first time in four years Real Madrid has gone three games without conceding a goal in La Liga. The last time it happened was in 2015 under the canopy of Rafael Benitez in which Real Madrid played four straight games without conceding a goal and then finally breaking the streak against Athletic Bilbao in the fifth game.
Under current coach, Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid is very much known to be a team that attacks with great intensity. They were sure to score with much experienced firepower upfront but are known to be a vulnerable at the back. The trophies and successes Zidane has gained so far at Real Madrid was gained at the back of “We don’t care how goals you put in our net provided we will put more in yours”.
This pattern of play apparently favored Zidane in his first stint at the club because he has got a prolific goal scorer in Cristiano Ronaldo who had very much experienced and compatible helpers in Karim Benzema and Isco Alarcon. However, Cristiano Ronaldo has left, there is no more player to outscore the opponents hence Real Madrid’s lack of success since the Portuguese’s departure.
Zidane returned almost a year after Ronaldo left with the hopes of putting things right. He was afforded the luxury of making the signings of his choice and Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy all arrived to strengthen the team. James Rodriguez also returned from Bayern Loan and finally stayed at the team. The preference of attack to defending seemed to have continued under Zidane’s new watch but was paid more attention to after the mauling and disgrace from Paris Saint Germain in their first Uefa Champions League groupstage encounter in Paris.
With that same line up that got drubbed in Paris, Zidane secured a hard fought 1-0 win against Sevilla at the Sanchez Ramos Pizjuan, which was followed by a 2-0 win against Osasuna at the Bernabeu and finally, a 0-0 draw against Alteico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. All three matches pointed to a particular direction, Zidane is currently paying more attention to defense than offence which is supposedly true but it is the wisest of decision from my point of view.
When you look at the current Real Madrid squad, many tend to forget the players at the treatment table. The goals and attack are lacking fluidity and intensity today because there is much work to be done to master defensive duties and compactness before preparing the rope to tie it with the attack. The likes of Isco, Luka Modric and Marcelo, three of the best players with the rare ability of formulating attacking brilliance from nowhere are currently not fully available with the squad but will be soon.
There is currently no need to worry about the current weak attacking flow with the Real Madrid team, the attack will regain its authenticity but until then, the amazing defensive work of the team is brilliant to watch.
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