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Score: Numancia 0-3 Real Madrid
Goals: Gareth Bale 35', Isco 89', Borja Mayoral 90'
On Zinedine Zidane's second anniversary of being Real Madrid's manager, his side registered a 3-0 victory over Numancia in the first leg of the round of 16 stage of the Copa Del Rey. This was the first game in two weeks for Real Madrid as the European giants started their calendar year on a positive note.
Gareth Bale scored from the spot kick to give Madrid a lead. Two late goals from Isco and Borja Mayoral then sealed the victory for the away side and a rather unassailable advantage going into the second leg at the Bernabeu.
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Without wasting further time, let's analyze the game in detail and look at the 5 talking points from the match between Real Madrid and Numancia:
#5 Zidane tested his fringe players on the night
The first game of 2018 for Real Madrid saw Zinedine Zidane make 10 changes to the side that was handsomely beaten by FC Barcelona. Apart from Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid played out with a rather youthful side. Zinedine Zidane praised the impact of his fringe players in his press conference but the reality seemed to be far from it.
Yes, the scoreline suggests that it was a convincing victory but the final score can sometimes be conniving. Real Madrid looked sluggish going forward and had Numancia been afforded some luck, the story could have been a whole lot different.
Zidane's teams in the past two years have always seen his second-string side push the first-team players that extra bit more for a place in the playing eleven. It was his squad depth than enabled Zidane to dominate on all fronts.
But, looking at the state of affairs this season, Madrid's young and fringe players are simply not doing enough to challenge the senior members for a regular berth which is disrupting the balance that previous Real Madrid teams managed by Zidane had.
#4 Refereeing decisions hindered proceedings
Two penalties. One red card. One penalty appeal thwarted. You can guess that the referee in the match between Numancia and Real Madrid had a field day. The home side would feel hard done by the official at the end of the game as it was them who were at the end of referee's important decisions.
Lucas Vazquez went to ground after a tackle from Carlos Gonzalez and without any hesitation, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Numancia felt that it was a soft penalty but the decision had already been made.
Pape Diamanka then received marching orders at the hour mark after a terrible tackle on Nacho, a decision that was far too easy to make for the man in charge.
Then in the final quarter of the game, the referee again gave a penalty to Real Madrid as Lucas Vazquez looked to have been tripped by Gutierrez. There was minimal contact between the two and in all fairness, this should not have been a penalty.
Numancia too were denied a spot-kick of their own when Theo Hernandez pulled back Dani Nieto which could have brought Numancia back into the game.
#3 Numancia had minimal or no luck in the game
The second-division side entered this match being unbeaten in their last five outings. The side from northern Spain are in a solid position in the league standings and are comfortably placed in the playoff positions.
Numancia were supposed to give Real Madrid a run for their money, at least in the first leg at home, and with some luck, the scoreline would have seen the home side making a mark on the game.
We have already talked about the penalty conceded by the home side and the penalty denied to them. Along with that, the hosts had a number of close chances that could have changed the game's complexion. Spotting Kiko Casilla off his line, Inigo Perez attempted a lob from around 45 yards.
Perez had beaten the keeper with ease but the ball rattled the crossbar and bounced just a yard off the goal line. It could have been one of the goals of the season but Numancia were made to rue their luck.
The home side also had a glorious chance in the first half when Higinio Marin went close to open the deadlock but his shot went just wide off the far post.
Some luck for Numancia and the tie would certainly have been a lot less one-sided, and would've upped the intensity for the return leg at the Bernabeu.
#2 Copa del Rey - Real Madrid's only chance of silverware
Real Madrid have underperformed this campaign. Despite winning the UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup, Real Madrid see themselves being realistically out of the title race. Los Blancos are 14 points behind Barcelona, a lead too big to be usurped.
They face Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League, a tie where Real Madrid are the second favourites. That leaves Zidane only with the Copa Del Rey to have a real chance of winning silverware this season.
The result against Numancia has now put them on the brink of qualifying for the quarterfinals (despite not being convincing in this match or in the previous tie against Fuenlabrada).
In two years of Zidane's reign at the club, Real Madrid have lost just one cup tie. A stat to give some joy to the Madrid faithful. In order to win a big trophy this season, Zidane and Real Madrid need to make Copa del Rey their no.1 priority and field strong lineups in the future rounds.
#1 Gareth Bale makes first Real Madrid start since September
The Welshman finally started a game for Real Madrid! Bale last started a match for his side on September 26 against Borussia Dortmund, a match where he had scored a superb goal. He damaged his calf in that encounter and subsequently missed two months of action.
Bale played against Fuenlabrada in the last tie of the Copa Del Rey, coming off the bench to deliver an assist. He again had an issue with his calf which put him on the sidelines. Bale also made an appearance in the Club World Cup but this was his first real chance to make a statement about his comeback.
He scored from the penalty spot in the first half, beating the Numancia custodian with a stuttered run-up. But he was anonymous for the majority of his performance and looked like a player terribly short on match fitness.
He was hooked off at half-time as Zinedine Zidane will now try to manage his playing time with minute attention. Bale is expected to start in Real Madrid's La Liga clash against Celta Vigo on Sunday as well.
