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Real Madrid beat Sporting Gijon 2-1 courtesy a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and managed to hang on despite a rather average performance from their players at the Santiago Bernabeu. Sporting Gijon’s Carlos Carmona pulled a goal back for the visitors but striker Duje Cop missed a penalty towards the end, failing to secure a draw for his side.
Real Madrid were dominant in the opening 25 minutes when they scored both the goals but then did not continue with the same intensity and put the game beyond Gijon who duly clawed their way back.
Here are a few talking points from the game.
#1 How do referees spot simulation more effectively?
Not many noticed it initially, but replays showed later that Lucas Vasquez clearly threw his foot and body onto Isma Lopez. The contact was ushered by Vasquez who fell to the floor after it. To be fair, the defender had stuck a foot out and invited it but Vasquez appeared to win the penalty by simulation.
It was the 4th minute of the game and Gijon’s evening could not have started off worse. Ronaldo stepped up and slotted home making it 1-0 to the home side. The question is, how do referees, not just in Spain but all over Europe, stop this kind of simulation where players thrust themselves crashing their own leg purposely onto a defender’s outstretched one.
Perhaps the referee in the middle or the linesmen should be trained well enough to spot this in real time because if players of teams like Real Madrid do it against smaller teams like Sporting Gijon as well then there really is no hope for the smaller clubs.
#2 When Cristiano Ronaldo wants to play, he is unstoppable
Ronaldo started the game in the same way he started against Atletico in the Madrid derby, with speed, forcing the issue and making darting runs into the box. He scored the penalty that Lucas Vasquez won with ease, finishing to the keeper’s bottom right and making it 1-0.
He then found himself in space with a free header yards in front of goal and almost doubled Real’s lead but surprisingly headed wide. Then on 18 minutes, Nacho floated in an absolute beauty of a cross to the far post where Ronaldo had made a predatory run and the Madrid talisman scored a brilliant diving header to make it 2-0 and his 2nd on the night.
Ronaldo then as the game progressed seemingly took his foot off the gas and disappeared for large spells of the game. That being said, when he wants to play and shows that hunger to score, he is unstoppable. Ronaldo now leads La Liga’s scoring charts with 10 goals, 2 ahead of Messi and Suarez.
#3 Nacho continues to deliver and shows consistency and versatility
Nacho has been one of Real Madrid’s best defenders so far this season. When he was asked to play at center back against Atletico, he did so and played magnificently. The young Spaniard has quickly asserted himself into Zidane’s starting lineup, whether he stays there remains to be seen as Real have good, quality players in defence like Rafael Varane.
Sergio Ramos and Pepe started in the centre against Gijon and Nacho was asked to play left back. He did so with minimal fuss and went about his work up and down the flank with class and tenacity. He even notched up an assist for Ronaldo’s second goal, floating in a brilliant cross at the far post.
The thing about Nacho is that he is not flashy and he rarely puts a foot wrong much like fellow Spanish teammate Cesar Azpilicueta. Although he did score a brilliant scissor kick goal against Cultural Leonesa which will be spoken about for a very long time, Nacho remains an underrated classy defender and will only go from strength to strength from here on.
With Pepe’s career coming to an end slowly, expect Nacho to give Zidane something to think about while picking his starting eleven.
#4 Real Madrid’s midfield can perform without stars Toni Kroos and Casemiro
Real Madrid were expected to falter after Kroos and Casemiro got injured. The pair along with Modric are Real’s preferred midfield three but Los Blancos’ squad depth is so good that players like Isco, Kovacic and James Rodriguez make up a formidable bench.
Isco had a blinder against Atletico and was Real’s best midfield player while Modric and Kovacic played well also. Against Gijon, Zidane preferred Kovacic, James Rodriguez and Luka Modric who were excellent in the first half and won the midfield battle, even as the game progressed they played on a good level.
Real’s performance wasn’ their best, perhaps because they under-estimated Gijon but the midfield has shown in the past three La-Liga games that they can manage without Kroos and Casemiro. However, next weekend will be the ultimate test for them as they go up against Barcelona in the El Clasico.
#5 Sporting Gijon should finish off their chances if they want to stay up
Sporting Gijon had a good game against Real and were rather unfortunate to not get anything out of the game. In truth, they were wasteful with the chances and half chances they got. They started off brightly and surely their leading goalscorer Duje Cop should have done better this game.
After Carmona got them back in it, they could have put more pressure on Real’s defence. Duje Cop blasted his penalty into the stands and didn’t even test Keylor Navas in the Real goal. They should have scored and levelled the game then and there.
Gijon are now in 18th position in the La Liga table and if they want to stay up this season they must be more clinical and finish off their chances especially the good ones. They will be kicking themselves for not getting a point at least this game because they were very impressive against Real Madrid. This side doesn’t deserve to go down and they must work on their game and convert more.
