5 takeaways from a fascinating weekend of European football

#1 Real Madrid are purring along nicely

Real Madrid are coming along nicely under Lopetegui

The post Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo era has started in earnest at the Santiago Bernabeu. Although it's still early days, Madridistas will be happy with what they have seen so far.

Two teams have been dispatched so far in the 2018-19 LaLiga season, and the signs are good that Los Merengues are coming along nicely under new manager Julen Lopetegui.

Against a stubborn Girona side over the weekend, Madrid had gone behind to a well taken Borja Garcia goal, but roused themselves superbly to put 4 past their Catalan opposition.

Lopetegui would have been impressed by the manner of the comeback as the team never panicked and continued to play their football, confident in their abilities to get the desired result. Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale were lively down the flanks, with the Welshman really enjoying the license to roam that he has been given.

Karim Benzema looked sharp, and Isco seemed to be getting into his new play-making role slowly but surely. The manager would have been upset about the manner of the goal conceded, and the number of saves Keylor Navas had to make, but overall it has been an encouraging start for the 3-peat European Champions.