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Zinedine Zidane admitted after Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Seville last Saturday that “there are things to fix and when we fix them we will be competitive.” However, time is not on the Frenchman’s side as Los Blancos face the prospect of elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid have continued to reach the round of 16 of Europe’s premier club competition since the tournament was reformed in 1992, but a negative result against Borussia Monchengladbach could make that a reality.
Looking back at Los Blancos’ 16 games so far this season, there are several aspects that Zidane must focus on to become a competitive force again, starting against Gladbach.
Firepower
Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure has clearly hurt Real Madrid in terms of goals scored, despite the best efforts of Karim Benzema. The injuries to Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic mean the French number 9 will take on greater responsibility when it comes to finding a way to get past Yann Sommer.
More goals from men and midfielders were expected to come in the post-Cristiano era, but this has simply not been the case. Marco Asensio has been unable to score or record an assist in 13 appearances this season, while Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes are still in progress.
One consequence of this over-reliance on Benzema for goals is that Real Madrid have a hard time scoring the decisive goal in matches, or they don’t add to their account once they get past the deadlock. They are no longer the attacking force that they once were, and this keeps the opposition in the party.
Party control
Another problem is the way that Real Madrid have won the battle for possession in many games this season, but it has not always translated into victories. Curiously, when they gave the ball to the rival against Barcelona and Sevilla, they won both games.
Zidane needs the trio of midfielders from his first spell, Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, to be back in top form. Martin Odegaard and Fede Valverde were expected to force their way into the XI, but injuries have hampered the progression of both players.
Defensive solidity
Real Madrid won LaLiga Santander last year supported by strong defense. However, this season, they have conceded 11 goals in 12 games, the same number they allowed in the first half of the campaign in 2019/20. His defensive record in the Champions League is even worse, having conceded nine goals in five games.
However, it was a return to the defensive solidity of last year when Real Madrid traveled to face Sevilla last weekend. By keeping a clean sheet, confidence began to grow and they watched the match for a 1-0 victory. On Wednesday night, the comebacks of Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos will also help behind.
More productivity from the bank
Zidane made only one substitution at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuan Stadium, and no one warmed up after Marco Asensio’s entry in the 66th minute. Casemiro was also one warning away from missing the Madrid derby. It was a clear sign in the Frenchman’s thinking about those who had not played.
But if the Whites are to be successful this year, Zidane will have to put more faith in those players on the bench. With only 12 or 13 players, you cannot win the Champions League or LaLiga Santander. Ask Carlos Quieroz.
Injuries
It’s unfortunate, but the number of minutes that some players are playing and the muscle injuries collected surely correlate. By picking the same players each week, Zidane will likely see the injured list grow as the season progresses.
Sergio Ramos was able to come back in time for Gladbach’s game, fortunately for everyone from Real Madrid’s perspective, but Eden Hazard will not be on the pitch at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium. Surely his return in the round of 16, should Los Blancos go that far, could help determine his success in the competition.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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