The Spanish giants and current European Champions Real Madrid had to bring their ignominious five matches without a win to a halt by painstakingly beating their visitors, Viktoria Plzen 2-1 on Tuesday Champions League night. However, it was obvious even to the blind that the Los Blancos's performance was far below their standard, especially against a Champions League minnow team like Plzen.
Anyway, after such a long winning drought for a team like Madrid, any win will certainly serve as a confidence boost ahead of their big match against Barcelona on Sunday. Though both teams will be without the usual rival duo, Messi and Ronaldo, it seems from their performance so far, Barcelona are doing better. It's been almost a decade now, and the two beat players in the world have always added sparks to their clashes, their absence will indeed be felt.
Real Madrid managed to escape through the needles eye on Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Plzen to maintain their balance and pace with AS Roma at the top of Group G, however grabbing the whole three points wasn't just enough to sweep their cracks under the carpet. Their first win for over a month may have received an ovation from the fans, but watching the 13-time Champions League gladiators trying to run down the clock in the final minutes against a visiting club like that tells the current state of things in Madrid.
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There is however a beaming hope for the team as they prepare for their trip to the camp Nou to face Barcelona, and that is seeing the French striker Kareem Benzema's name inked on the scoresheet. It's really a positive sign, and the team will be a bit relieved to see their standard forward pick form when it matters the most. He has been under pressure to find the back of the net after eight games drought, indeed that powerful header from him at the 11th minute to put Madrid ahead must have eased a lot of tension at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Even though Benzema found the back of the net to put Madrid on the lead, trust me, tuesday's Champions league display by the French striker against Viktoria Plzen was not one of his best nights. At some points in the game, he had wasted a good opening with Bale all ready to get the ball, and also wasted a late chip, which saw the ball go out of play. He really needs to watch his profligacy before heading to the Camp Nou, because Barcelona will make them pay.
Well, they could be light at the end of the tunnel since Madrid is able to find the back of the net once again. Though the European Champions are seen sitting at an unusual seventh position on the Spanish League table, such desperate win on Tuesday night could go a long way to boost their miserable campaign.
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Madrid Needs To Work On Their Defense.
Though Real Madrid may have emerged victorious on Tuesday Champions league match against their Czech visitors at the Bernabeu, a holistic assessment of their defense have shown that there is a lot of work still left to be done, if they really wanna mend their cracked walls. The first half of the game witnessed the Czech Champions slicing apart Madrid's defense on more than two distinct scenarios. It took lack of clinical finishing from the visitors and the wonder gloves of Keylor Navas to stop them from finding the back of the net.
If you noticed, you will find out that the visitors took advantage of the right flank to attack Madrid. I have a serious issue with Madrid Coach Lopetegui playing Lucas Vazquez in that position, he just couldn't fit in as a right full-back. Maybe the coach wanted to experiment and know how flexible the squad can be, I can't really tell. However, my problem is making such a decision in a Home Champions league match. During that match, Vazquez was caught off guard many times, one of them seeing Milan Petrzela go through that flank, thanks to Navas that salvaged the error.
If the Czech visitors were a bit more composed and clinical with their chances, Madrid would have been booed by their own fans. If the European Champions put up such porous display against a calculated team like Barcelona, they will be made to pay for it. An attacking line up that has Suarez and Coutinho breathing fire will unleash mayhem at the slightest complacency. However, the magical Marcelo who ended Madrid's eight-hour run without a goal, surfaced again to restore tranquility in the Spanish capital with well worked goal.
There is something I have also noticed about the Real Madrid side since this season, and that is their unusual ill-luck with the woodwork. It also surfaced in yesterday's Champions league match against Plzen when Sergio Ramos struck the post in the first half with a powerful header, he also met the the same fate in their 2-1 defeat to Levante on Saturday. Yesterday's hitting of the woodwork made it 11 times in all competition this season for Madrid, and this could be a pointer that their bad performance contains little bad luck.
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Benzema Silently Shaking The Records
Kareem Benzema is just one of those players who may not be getting a top-notch ovation and accolades in his football career, however, the French striker has remained unfazed and consistent in giving out his best for any team he finds himself. He may have people who have always doubted his class and quality, but the Real Madrid forward has moved to become just the third player to score in 14 consecutive seasons in Europe's elite club competition. His goal against Plzen on Tuesday Champions league night saw him join Lionel Messi and Raul in an exclusive CL goal club.
It's almost a decade of loyal service for the Los Blancos, and the French striker is not relenting in making his mark at the Santiago Bernabeu. Sometimes, he finds himself operating under the shadows of more illustrious team-mates like Ronaldo, since both players arrived at Madrid in the same summer. However, while the Portuguese captain has move on to Italy for greener pastures, the French forward have proved his loyalty by holding on.
The resilient Frenchman has made more than 420 outings for the Spanish giants, and is just two strikes away from hitting his 200th goal for the club. His powerful header against Plzen on the 11th minute took his goal tally to 198 for Madrid, and it's only a matter of time before he reaches two century goals for the club. Please let's cut Benzema some slack, he deserves some accolades. What this implies is that, the French striker has scored in UCL action in each of his Ten seasons in Madrid, having previously scored in 4 consecutive seasons while in Lyon. Only Messi and Raul can boast of such feat in their career.
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