Real Madrid warmed up for their massive Champions League encounter against Wolfsburg in style as they thrashed Eibar 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to close the gap between themselves and Barcelona to 4 points. James Rodriguez opened the scoring with a brilliant free-kick which evaded the wall and snuck in at the far post. They increased their lead in the 18th minute when a brilliant counter-attack saw Lucas Vazquez score his first league goal in 2016.
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Two minutes later, a similar counter-attack resulted in Ronaldo scoring his 30th league goal of the season before he turned provider for Jese to slot home into an open goal and make it 4-0 within 40 minutes. Although Eibar put in a creditable performance in the second half, they could not find the back of the net and force the initiative of a fightback.
Here are the 5 talking points that decided a routine victory for Real Madrid:
Zidane makes a host of changes keeping Wolfsburg in mind
When the team sheets were released, it was absolutely no surprise too see an unfamiliar Real Madrid starting line-up. Only 3 players who started against Wolfsburg on a forgettable Wednesday night made the starting line-up on Saturday. Pepe, Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo were the common figures in both starting line-ups.
Real’s shortage of centre-backs meant that Nacho earned a starting place, with Alvaro Arbeloa playing at left-back. Keeping Tuesday’s return leg against the Wolves in mind, Zinedine Zidane’s decision to rest several key players in the build up to that crucial encounter was justified as Los Blancos ran out comfortable victors.
Real Madrid’s ruthless counter-attacks deflates Eibar
Real Madrid have historically been renowned as the fastest counter-attacking side in the world. The trio of Lucas Vazquez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez epitomised that attribute as they absolutely blew away their hapless opponents in the first 20 minutes. The first goal saw Ronaldo burst forward after a wonderful pass by Isco to lay it on a plate for Lucas Vazquez.
The next – 2 minutes later – saw Jese make a similar approach from the opposite side following which he found Ronaldo at the back post. Simple, cool finish. They quite effectively did the job for Los Blancos when Ronaldo once again steamed down the left wing, made a cutting run-in and played an inch-perfect ball to Jese, who had the easiest of jobs to slot home into an empty net. Trademark stuff.
Eibar did create their chances
Eibar responded to their first-half drubbing with a spirited performance – getting the ball into the box and finding spaces in the Madrid defence. They came really close on three occasions – the first chance fell to striker Sergi Enrich as he failed to get a foot on a delicious low ball by winger Keko from the right by-line.
The second opportunity belonged to substitute winger Junca Rene – whose effort from around thirty yards out just missed the post. The final chance was easily the most glaring, as another substitute Borja Baston smashed his header against the crossbar with the goal gaping. A terribly unlucky afternoon for the Basque side.
Nacho excels at centre-back
With Sergio Ramos suspended and Raphael Varane nursing injuries, Zidane decided to deploy Nacho at centre-half. The 26-year old – who usually plays second-fiddle to Marcelo at left-back – repaid his manager’s faith as he expertly soaked in all the Eibar pressure early in the second half.
Some timely interceptions, robust tackling and superiority over Enrich in terms of aerial and ground duels won would have been a relief to Zidane and the onlookers from the Bernabeu. Even after having suffered a double blow to his shin in either half, he managed to keep his focus to deliver a solid dispay for Real Madrid on Saturday.
Real Madrid face a drought in the defensive department
Real Madrid may have run out comfortable victors, but their issues at the back continue to hamper their progress under Zinedine Zidane. With Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane nursing injuries, Nacho taking a blow on the shin in the first half and Danilo in such horrible form, Zidane must look for ways to address this problem if they’re to stay hot on Barcelona’s heels in their slim hopes of winning the title race.
He might have to consider the option of slotting Casemiro alongside Pepe against Wolfsburg on Tuesday if none out of Ramos, Varane or Nacho make it. That move could see Mateo Kovacic come in at defensive midfield to fill a potential void left by Casemiro. Zidane will have to consider all his possible defensive permutations to get his side out of a hole when they face the German side three days from now.
