Real Madrid pulled off a stunning last-gasp 3-2 win over Sporting Gijon thanks to an Isco masterclass, which takes their lead over Barcelona to six points, ahead of the Blaugrana’s game against Real Sociedad later tonight.
Sporting Gijon stunned Real Madrid with a 14th minute opener via Duje Cop, only for Isco to respond with a wonderful strike minutes later. The hosts then took a shock lead in the second half thanks to Mikel Vesga’s excellent header in the 50th minute, only for Alvaro Morata to equalize on the hour mark. Isco then produced a superb low drive in the 90th minute to ensure Madrid walked away with all three points.
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Here are 5 talking points from the game:
#1 Zidane Time
Like Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘Fergie Time’, this Real Madrid side have time and again come up with the goods in the final few minutes. They have scored 18 times in the last 10 minutes of a game, more than any other side in La Liga this season.
This trait goes beyond superior fitness – Real Madrid seem to have an eerie composure about themselves even when chasing a game in the final few moments. It’s a reflection of their manager – who exudes calm on the touchline even when things aren’t going right.
When Isco found the time to hammer a low drive to put Real Madrid 3-2 up, there was an air of inevitability to the winner. This is characteristic of champions; the confidence that seeps through the entire squad, not just the first XI. Zidane’s wide smile at the end said it all – the Spanish press will no doubt point and probe at Madrid going 2-1 down to Gijon, but make no mistake; when it happens so often, it is not ‘papering over cracks’ – it is a genuine quality.
After the game, Zidane outlined his view of his sides late heroics, saying “We know that with the team we have we can do damage to any team and fighting to the end to get three points is in our DNA at Real Madrid.”
#2 The backups are still backups
For all of the feel-good factor of a last-gasp 3-2 win, there is still the irrevocable fact that Real Madrid trailed twice to 18th placed Sporting Gijon. If not for Isco’s heroics, the press would have a field day criticising Zidane’s decision to omit Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema from the matchday squad completely.
Apart from Alvaro Morata, Danilo and Isco, the backups proved to be very much worthy of their status. Mateo Kovacic started the game brightly enough, but was a bit slow getting back into defensive positions unlike Casemiro. Fabio Coentrao was Madrid’s best passer in the first half, but the attacking impetus offered by Marcelo when he came on was obvious.
The likes of Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio and James Rodriguez will continue to be second choice after performances like these – they’ll not be displacing the likes of Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale and Luka Modric any time soon. Real Madrid have a quality second string – but they need to be doing better than last-gasp wins over relegation candidates.
#3 Duje Cop’s redemption was a hollow one
Gijon deserved much more from the game than a heartbreaking loss – they were well worth their leads both times. This was not a minnow stealing a goal and sitting back; Gijon came to play. Duje Cop was the epitome of a side unaware of the gulf between both teams – the Croat was full of running throughout.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season, Cop blazed a penalty over that would have drawn his side level with 15 minutes to play. He seemed determined to make things right, and did it in the 14th minute – with a clever darting run to beat the offside trap and then produce an ingenious prod past Kiko Casilla to give Sporting the lead.
However, as has been the story of Sporting Gijon’s season, Cop grew silent as the game went on. Sporting have been unable to find the killer instinct needed in La Liga to survive – the minnows have looked pleasing on the eye many a time this season, only to fall at the final hurdle. With a 5 point gap to Leganes in 17th, it seems all but certain that Gijon will be relegated this season.
#4 Isco
These 90 minutes inside El Molinon were undoubtedly Isco’s best in a Real Madrid jersey. Even before the 90th minute winner, the wee Spanish magician was the best player on the pitch, by a considerable mile. His first goal was a thing of beauty – a shuffle inside past two defenders before hammering an unstoppable shot into the top corner with his left foot.
And then came *that* run – Isco’s dog is named Messi, but at this rate he could take on the moniker itself. I mean, just look at this run:
In the 90th minute, with Madrid staring at an uncomfortable build up to El Clasico, Isco showed why he is Real Madrid calibre. In 1 second, he may have reversed his fortunes at the club, with a sweetly struck drive into the bottom corner.
Zidane agrees – “Isco is a great player and he has shown that Madrid is where he belongs. He has shown with his performance that he is a great player.”
#5 Zidane’s tactical genius goes unnoticed
Zinedine Zidane gets the short end of the straw quite a fair bit. The Frenchman’s incredible start to life as a manager; winning the UEFA Champions League, was dismissed as ‘luck’. He oversaw a record-breaking unbeaten run, but is still thought of as tactically ‘naive’.
If you ever wanted proof about the idiocy of those statements, look at Real Madrid’s last two games – a second half tweak in formation completely reversed Madrid’s fortunes against Bayern Munich, even before the red card.
Today, Zidane's introduction of Marcelo changed the game in a way that most managers wouldn't even have thought of - a left-back as a game-changing substitute? Yet, the Brazilian's overlapping runs caused Gijon to overload that side of the pitch with defenders, which allowed Danilo the space to wreak havoc on the right side, leading to the second goal.
Zidane deserves his due, and it's not just down to luck - "In football there's no luck. There's lot of hard work, effort in every game, every moment, every ball. You must make your own luck."
