Another stunningly disappointing performance from Real Madrid, if Barcelona should win their match tonight, they would be 10 points below top spot. Should the race for the league title be given up already?

How it happened

Solari set out with the same eleven that drew with Villareal inside the week, with the only exception of Gareth Bale who picked up a Grade 1 calf injury during the match against Villarreal. Dani Carvajal continued at right-back, Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos retained partnership in central defence, Marcelo continued at Left-back. The three man midfield saw the same combination of Modric, Casemiro and Kroos, while the attack featured Benzema, Lucas Vasquez and Vinicius Junior who came in for Gareth Bale.

The match started as expected, with Real Madrid looking to control the tempo until the 3rd minute, with Marcelo sluggishly giving away a pass in his side of the pitch that led to Casemiro conceding a controversial penalty while marking Mikel Merino in the 18 yard box. The penalty stood and was converted to gift Real Sociedad an early goal lead.

The event that led to that penalty turned out to be the decisive moment of the match as every other thing went right for Real Madrid for the rest of the match except two things, they couldn't score an open goal and the VAR couldn't help them.

Real Sociedad hasn't looked too powerful all season, as a matter of fact, they are a weak and struggling team, they possess one of the worst defensive stats of the season so far, Illaramendi is looking a shadow of himself, Januzaj hasn't been playing at his best but they all stood together to claim all three points at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid had two clear penalties turned down, if those were against them like that of Casemiro in the first minute, they will be penalised. As a matter of fact, Real Madrid hasn't won a penalty through VAR all season, two penalties, one from Sergio Ramos and One from Vinicius was turned down, you get the feeling VAR was built against Real Madrid.

However, not getting penalties shouldn't be an excuse to justify how horrible Real Madrid has looked all season. The team appears to be needing a COMPLETE OVERHAUL. Marcelo is looking a complete shadow of himself lately, more like a man emotionally disturbed as a result of missing his cherishable lover in Cristiano Ronaldo. We are yet to see the Marcelo that is understandably a liability at the back but a total nuke at the front, terrorizing defences, a nightmare to every team. Since returning from injury, he hasn't produced the kinda performances he is known for, could it be down to lack of fitness, tiredness or a psychological problem?

Luka Modric ever since winning the Balon d'Or has struggled to maintain the same quality he is well known for, the rare banana passes, the feint moves, the defence splitting passes, where is Luka Modric?

To compound the misery of the night, Lucaz Vasquez after missing series of chances was sent off for a second yellow card offence. His going off apparently signalled the loss of the three points for Real Madrid as the space he left and as well, the gung-ho approach to end the match by Real Madrid left them susceptible at the back and they ended up conceding a second goal in the dying minutes.

My Thoughts and Conclusion

A major part of me is blaming age and fatigue to the lack of consistency on the part of Real Madrid this season. When Solari took over, he kick-started his Real Madrid career with a drubbing of third tier team Mellila. The world saw which players he rolled out, young and energetic starlets eager to prove a point. Ever since Reguilon retired to the bench through injury and the veteran players return to the starting eleven, the results and stats has depreciated real bad for the team. Real Madrid struggle to create quality chances and if defended against by lower teams as a unit, they find it very difficult breaking their way in. The only player that has looked so composed and eager to leave a mark and knows very much of what is demanded of him is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian lost the ball six times but complete six dribbles, not afraid to take the bull by the horn and he was unlucky to be on the losing side tonight.

Another player worthy of note is Marcos Llorente, before his injury, Solari has never lost a league match, he had more wins than draws. The Spaniard returned the key to Casemiro and the holes in the gate that he always covered are always overrun by the opponents.

I am in no way neglecting what Casemiro brings to the table or underrating his abilities but he just doesn't seem to be clicking any longer with the two players he won three successive champions league with.

Some sections of the media are currently calling for Solari to give the Veteran players some rest in the league matches and hand the younger players some opportunity to gain more knowledge and mature. It would be wrong to give up on the league by this time of the season but Real Madrid are looking susceptible each match that passes by and the plan to rebuild the team should start now, or they risk fighting for a place in the Europe League come end of season.

THANKS FOR READING...

Note: All images are Google sourced.