Galatasaray 0-1 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points | UEFA Champions League 2019-20

#1 Real Madrid’s attack papers over several cracks

Zidane still has plenty of issues to address

Ever since the 2018-19 season, Real Madrid have seemed a side in absolute turmoil. Los Blancos dispensed with a couple of managers last term and failed to make the quarter-finals of the UCL, in addition to finishing 3rd in the La Liga, 19 points off Barcelona.

Unsurprisingly, millions of eyes were focused on how the Spanish side would cope with the rigours of the 2019-20 campaign, especially considering they’d spent an awful lot of money in the summer. However, they’ve massively fallen short of the expectations so far, despite finding themselves just a point below Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table.

Far too often, Los Blancos have looked vulnerable defensively, meaning that they’ve invited pressure. Subsequently, they’ve let go off the initiative in matches. And, while they posted a narrow 1-0 victory on Tuesday, those aspects were laid bare for everyone to witness in Istanbul.

Though Madrid managed to keep a clean sheet, their defence always looked a disaster waiting to unravel. The likes of Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos seemed susceptible to runners in behind and had Galatasary been more prolific, the visitors could’ve been a couple of goals behind.

Moreover, their midfield was overrun spectacularly as Jean Michael Seri and Steven N’Zonzi controlled proceedings in the centre of the park. Additionally, the away side were always put under strife whenever Galatasaray broke with speed.

Fortunately for Madrid though, their flair players came to the party and rippled the net, thereby creating the advantage that enabled them to get the better of the Turkish side.

Yet, one couldn’t ignore the ailments that reared their ugly heads for Los Blancos. After all, the 2019-20 season was meant to be the term that procured tonics for such weaknesses.

However, that still seems quite far away and against teams who might showcase more decisiveness offensively, Madrid could well come unstuck and rather empathically at that.