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2. New-found defensive solidity
Real Madrid started the LaLiga season with a pair of wins and draws home and away before producing their first clean sheet of the season in a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sevilla, where the Whites have traditionally struggled to eke out favourable results.
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The 33-time Liga champions soon made it three clean sheets on the trot after beating Osasuna 2-0 at home and playing out a goalless stalemate at cross-town rivals Atletico.
Madrid had 12 clean-sheets in the entirety of last season but already have 6 clean-sheets in 13 games this season. Captain Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane have struck a formidable partnership at the heart of the Madrid defence, putting up a series of inspired performances to break up opposition attacks.
Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois is also having a better season after a forgettable debut in 2018-19, as is evident in the lanky custodian keeping 5 clean sheets in the Liga. Only four other keepers in the Liga this season have kept more clean sheets than the Belgian.
Following a string of criticisms, both warranted and unwarranted, for his early performances with the club, Courtois is finally beginning to display the kind of form which enticed Madrid to acquire his services from Premier League side Chelsea.
