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The Whites maintained their proud record of never failing to leave their Champions League group thanks to two goals from their number 9
It was a cold night in the Spanish capital, but Real Madrid did not freeze. On the contrary, everything fell into place for Zinedine Zidane, and not a moment too soon.
Karim Benzema was in his lethal prime, Sergio Ramos returned to galvanize the defense and the record 13-time European champion flexed his muscles to bring down Borussia Monchengladbach and quell the Europa League taunts that were thrown his way.
Real Madrid have never stopped leaving their Champions League group and, despite fears from the fans and the media in the Spanish capital, that proud record was never in doubt at the Alfredo di Stefano el Wednesday.
Zidane’s team won 2-0 thanks to Benzema’s head double, but it could have been five, six or seven, such was their dominance.
It had been a dismal group stage for Madrid up to this point, with six of their seven points against a weak Inter, the other in a 2-2 draw snatched in Gladbach.
The good news was the return of their captain from injury, with Madrid suffering eight defeats in their last 10 Champions League games without Ramos. Among the worst are the two recent early outings against Man City and Ajax, both in the last 16.
The 35-year-old’s leadership was felt and heard intensely as he commanded and coached the defense at all times, as Madrid kept only their second clean sheet of the group stage.
Benzema took care of things at the other end of the field. The Frenchman celebrated equaling Roberto Carlos’ record of 527 games for a non-Spanish player at Madrid by overtaking his team with a brilliant header from Lucas Vázquez in the ninth minute.
Alassane Plea could have matched Gladbach when he hit the goal moments later, but cut off his effort on Courtois and deflected from the post, the Germans’ only promising moment in the first half.
The rest was one-way traffic, with Luka Modric hitting the post and disallowing a goal for offside, while Benzema headed in his second goal in the same way he scored the first, this time connecting with a ball that he did. Brazilian forward Rodrygo Goes had served on a silver platter.
In Madrid’s 1-0 win over Sevilla last weekend, we saw signs that they were back on the right track after a rocky start to the season, showing the kind of discipline and desire that propelled them to the league title this season. pass.
This performance raised the bar even further, with Zidane’s resurgent side not only defending well but looking confident and self-assured, trusting each other, their prestige and their undoubted individual quality.
Most importantly, they worked hard, which was not the case in the recent losses to Valencia and Alavés.
This was the perfect warm-up, then, for Saturday’s Madrid derby with Atlético, and the ideal way to lighten the load on Zidane. He is unlikely to face more direct questions about his future, at least until the Champions League resumes in 2021.
Madrid were helped by Gladbach’s lousy display, with visitors looking at the entire team that collapsed in the final three minutes of the pair’s 2-2 draw at Borussia-Park in October, rather than the thrilling team they crushed. to the whites in the first 87 minutes of that game.
Benzema was inches from a hat-trick with an effort that crashed into the crossbar, Sommer made a spectacular save to deny Ramos, while Vázquez also hit the near post as Real rampaged.
Benzema had another chance to die, but this time he couldn’t head the ball. Third time with bad luck, but no third place for Madrid.
Despite growing doubts and criticism, Zidane led his team to first place in Group B. Mission accomplished, order restored.
