#3 Madrid’s defence missed key players and it was keenly felt
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Going into the game, Real Madrid had some notable absentees – Casemiro and Marcelo are out injured while keeper Keylor Navas is still regaining match fitness after a heel injury sustained in May this year.
Defensively, Madrid were susceptible and their fragility was exposed time and again. Initially, Palmas chose to sit back in two banks of four and attack on the counter while they dug deep in the second half to grind out a draw.
Casemiro’s absence in the middle of park was game-changing, as Kroos was ineffective in breaking down Palmas attacks. Since the Brazilian has been drafted into Zidane’s side, they have won all of the games with his midfield antics key to freeing up the attack. He was certainly missed this time around.
Ramos looked shaky without Marcelo’s assured presence to aid him while Kiko Casilla was at fault for Palmas’s second goal.
First Villarreal and now Palmas have been able to steal points from Los Blancos – it is not simply a coincidence that these have come when Casemiro and Navas have been away. While the Brazilian midfielder is out for a few weeks, there is no timeline on Marcelo’s return as yet.
However, Navas’ return to the fold must be a welcome sight for Zidane and team.
