La Liga 2016/17: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: 5 Talking Points

3.Despite the numerous positives, the biggest takeaway for Zidane is that he needs to do something about his defence.

There were plenty of positives for Zinedine Zidane to take away from the game – Real Madrid’s high press worked magnificently; their intensity was so high that it successfully managed to intimidate the most relentlessly intense team in the league; and the BBC led from the front in this... all 10 outfielders played as a unit. Real’s attacks showed a degree of fluidity, dynamism, and verve, that had been missing for too long. Real’s midfield generals commanded the field for the vast majority of the game. Real’s set pieces were, as ever, exceptional.

Also, Read – Zinedine Zidane is the hero Real Madrid need, and the one they deserve

And yet, that is not what Zidane will take away from this game. It’s the unbelievable fragility of his defence – especially that central core.Real Madrid need to address this. It wasn’t just the last hurrah that Atletico put together, even before that Atletico appeared like they could score from some slip at the back despite not being in the game at all!

While Sergio Ramos has grabbed the headlines for his immense goalscoring exploits, it has helped cover up a defensive game that has bordered on the atrocious at times. Pepe was much better, and alongside him, Ramos seemed to get better too as the game progressed... but the moment Nacho came on for the injured Pepe... KABOOM! *self-destruction*

And the point is, at the end of the day, Atletico’s goal was just too easy. A simple pass through the middle, a simple run, and a simple finish – Madrid had gone to sleep. You can be rest assured Zidane would have woken them up from their stupor in the dressing room post match