You must be a visitor on this planet or someone who just happens to learn of Real Madrid and their glorious history to be surprised by their dreadful performance and loss away against Real Sociedad yesterday.
It has been echoed time without number that Zidane and the club already had their sights set on next season, therefore prompting the French coach to experiment on his team with less criticism.
This was the second to last La Liga fixture and I for one expected it to be one the Whites would win at all cost. Ranging from the fact that they lost this same encounter the last time both teams met at the Bernabeu and with players willing to show and prove they deserve a place in the team next season, their squad quality, a straight win for Real Madrid looked very likely.
Zidane sent out his men in his usual 4-3-3 formation. Thubiat Courtois was selected in between the sticks. Jesus Vallejo who impressed last time out against Athletic Bilbao was given the nod and partnered Nacho Hernandez.
Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Isco Alarcon filled the three-man midfield while Brahaim Diaz, Marco Asensio both flanked Karim Benzema in attack.
Not long after the match started, Brahaim Diaz was found running towards the Sociedad defenders and dancing past them till he put the ball in the back of the net to give Real Madrid an early lead. You could see the smiles on the faces of every Madrid faithful including Zidane who punched the air and murmured words that apparently “That’s my trainee!!”.
Well, that joy was short lived as a poor and typical Marcelo allowed an opponent climb over him and head a ball he should have headed out straight towards a poorly positioned Courtois to draw Sociedad level.
Not long after, Vallejo received a red card for blocking a shot with his arms and the ensued penalty was missed but that didn’t stop Sociedad from putting more two past an ambitionless, lifeless and motiveless Real Madrid to win them for two legs in a season for the first time in more than three decades.
We all know this team is playing an experimental type of football but allowing Sociedad win them on their turf and at the Bernabeu is just unacceptable. This type of performance would definitely not go down well with Zidane as his players who he won three consecutive Uefa Champions League with seem not to have it in them anymore.
One more match left and we get this season over with.
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