Enough has been said of Zidane's apparent experimental approach to the remaining matches of the season as it is clear they have no trophy to play for and only look towards next season.
This was the fourth match of coach Zinedine Zidane ever since he took the wheel at the club. It was clear he was handed a heavy-duty vehicle with leaked tires and he has since been trying to patch them up trip after trip at least until he disposes of his last package.
The last match between Real Madrid and Eibar under coach Santiago Solari ended in a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the Ipurra in which Los Blancos looked lost and were outplayed/outsmarted by their opponents.
This time around, Eibar had to deal with a not so different Real Madrid with a different coach and they came out with the same tactics that worked so well for them in the first leg.
Zidane rolled out his usual 4-3-3 with Keylor Navas in between the sticks. Nacho Hernandez in place of Sergio Ramos and partnering Raphael Varane in central defence. Sergio Reguilon replaced the suspended Marcelo at left back and Alvaro Odriozola continued in place of the injured Dani Carvajal at right back.
Fans and viewers were met with much surprise in Zidane's midfield as he sent out young Fede Valverde as the lone pivot in a midfield that has Luka Modric and Isco partnering him while Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio flanked Karim Benzema in attack.
All these popular names on the line up didn't have any effect on the morale of the Eibar team just like it did last time both teams met. Bar an early 1v1 miss from Bale, Real Madrid failed to create anything the rest of the first half. They were outsmarted once again as Eibar played the same terrific high line we saw them play last time out and it worked for them again. For much part of the first half, Real Madrid were lacking in ideas of how to break past this high line of Eibar despite possessing press resistant players in Isco and Modric.
The impressive Eibar continued to restrict Real Madrid to little time on the ball and pushed further till they got their reward in the 39th minute. A quick play from the left flank saw the final ball go past Sergio Reguilon who failed to read his environment well but the major blame for that goal, in my own opinion would fall on the head of goalie Keylor Navas as he lay on the ground before the ball was being played thus giving the scorer enough time to chip the ball over him and into the net.
The first half ended with Real Madrid shooting just one shot and zero on target. Their disastrous first half display irritated coach Zinedine Zidane that he couldn't wait for the first half whistle to be blown before reaching out for the dressing room. One thing was certain, Zidane was pretty much annoyed with his team and will without doubt talk some inspiration into them.
Real Madrid's approach for the second half proved Zidane must have done some talking and tweaking. The only apparent change in tactics was the switching of flanks between Asensio and Gareth Bale in which the former shifted to the right and the latter to the left and this change proved to be decisive.
Asensio with his usual swift twist and turn moves constantly hoodwinked the Eibar players on the right flank and they had to stay back when they found his moves threatening.
Their caution didn't yield any positive note as Asensio was not to be stopped from whipping in a right footed cross that Benzema headed into the net to draw Real Madrid level. Five goals in five matches for the French man.
Real Madrid continued to pin the Eibar team back into their own half. They looked but a shadow of the disappointing side they were in the first half and created more chances that were begging to be converted.
Zidane brought on Toni Kroos for Luka Modric and Vasquez for Bale and this further worsened Eibar's situation as they began tiring out. Toni Kroos would whip in a cross ensuing from a corner that found the man with the infinity gauntlet-esque bandage in his right hand and the ball was found at the back of the net to take Real Madrid ahead.
More and more chances were creates and Benzema missed opportunities to complete his hat trick but both Zidane, the players and the fans would take delight in their second half performance.
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