Real Madrid 1-0 Granada: Five talking points

Sloppy Real Madrid laboured their way to a slender 1-0 victory over a spirited Granada side, as they provisionally take pole position in the league. Striker Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game as he headed home an inch-perfect cross from Isco to make the difference.Coming into the game on the back of some resounding victories, Los Blancos were heavily touted to saunter their way past Granada too, having already trounced them 9-1 back in April. However, the visitors appeared to have come a long way since, and put the hosts to the sword with some resolute defending, restricting them to just one goal in the game.The home side were courteous to their French target man who lifted them out of the lurch with a close-range header, which otherwise, was a lacklustre showing from them. Here are the five talking points of the game.

#1 Injuries clearly impacting Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s 4-0 midweek triumph over Shakhtar Donetsk was soured when some of their key players such as Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos sustained injuries, thereby sidelining them from this clash. Nonetheless, the Madrid contingent were still expected to breeze past Granada with their squad depth. But shockingly, they couldn’t and sorely missed the duo’s services.

At the back, the visitors managed to create unrest on quite a few occasions when they came really close to finding the back of the net. Real’s defence was often caught in no man’s land and struggled in the absence of their captain. Rafael Varane, his replacement, was listless and beaten many times by Youssef El-Arabi.

His partner, Pepe, wasn’t any better. The Portuguese international just wasn’t in his element today and allowed the visiting attackers to invade the box way too many times.

Their complications stretched across to the opposite end of the pitch as well, as the Meringues struggled to create clear-cut chances without Bale. The Welshman’s incisive runs, accurate crosses and speed down the right flank were sorely missed and the likes of Isco and Lukas Vazquez did little to fill the void.

Injuries are clearly starting to have an impact on Real Madrid.

#2 Granada have learnt from their mistakes

The last time Granada made their way to the Santiago Bernabeu, they were ruthlessly belted black and blue by the home side and were fighting the drop. While they were fortunate enough to avoid relegation, they have certainly improved since their last visit to the Spanish capital.

El 5001, as they are known, choked Real Madrid with their defensive approach and made them walk the extra mile to conjure a chance on goal. Having closely marked the key players, the Andalusians nipped every attack in the bud and left the home side gasping.

Not only that, but Granada appeared strong even in the attack as they ruffled some feathers with gilt-edged attempts and even had a goal ruled offside early in the first half. Real Madrid survived a real risk of being held to a draw after Benzema headed home the winner, but Granada deserve all the kudos for a valiant performance.

#3 Keylor Navas continues to deliver

Amidst the toothless and dismaying show put up by Real Madrid, goalkeeper Keylor Navas was the only glimmer of positivity. The Costa Rican stood out once again and maintained yet another clean sheet.

With the defence being haphazard and Granada attackers breaching at will, the former Levante custodian stood tall, thwarting every shot or parrying it away from the net. Although he was beaten by El-Arabi in the first half, he was lucky for the goal to be adjudged offside. Otherwise, Navas was flawless and, without him, Los Blancos would have been left embarrassed.

With another clean sheet in the bag, Navas has added a feather to his cap as he made a club record for going the longest time without surrendering a goal (5 matches in all competitions).

4- Navas has matched M.Angel's record for Real Madrid (1975) keeping clean sheets in the opening 4 league games. Wall pic.twitter.com/gGTHvS5BYM

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 19, 2015

#4 Karim Benzema proves his worth, again

At Real Madrid, where the squad is packed to the rafters with stellar names, Karim Benzema often goes unnoticed. The Frenchman is regularly overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and is never quite given the credit he deserves. But that doesn’t discourage him from putting in match-winning performances, just like he did against Granada.

The former Lyon striker netted the only goal of the game and secured all the three points for his side, underlying his importance to them. Today’s strike makes it four goals in four matches for Benzema, who seems to be on a goalscoring spree this season.

The Frenchman has always been a reliable goalscorer and is unstoppable when on form. The presence of more glamorous players on either sides oh him has seen him miss out on moments of reckoning under the sun. But after today’s match-winning performance, has reminded everybody of his significance.

#5 Young guns should be given more time

Manager Rafael Benitez has always been vocal about giving opportunities to the youth and demonstrated it when he refrained from loaning out Denis Cheryshev and exercised the buy-back clauses to bring home the likes of Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez back to the capital. However, he is yet to fully award them proper game time and, despite some notable absentees in this game, opted to bring them on only towards the end of the game.

While Lucas Vazquez graced the field for well over an hour, the rest, including the summer arrival Mateo Kovacic, were brought on only after the hour mark – a ploy that was eye-brow raising.

Toni Kroos had admitted he was fatigued and was widely expected to be rested for the low-key clash. However, the German was thrust into the lineup ahead of Kovacic, whereas Isco was handed a start instead of Cheryshev.

The young blood were sublime with their performances but need more time to flourish.