Real Madrid opened their account for the new season in style as the reigning European champions cruised to a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad at Anoeta, with Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale doing the damage.
Shorn of several first-team regulars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, it took Welshman just 75 seconds into the new campaign to put the visitors ahead, before Asensio doubled the lead just minutes before half-time with a superb chip.
Los Blancos pushed for a third after the break and after several blocked attempts made it 3 as Bale wrapped up a perfect evening with a perfect finish deep into stoppage time.
Here are the five talking points from the game.
#1 Bale takes up the mantle again
Towards the business end of last season when Cristiano Ronaldo was injured, Gareth Bale dragged Real Madrid single-handedly and kept them in the title race as he took up the scoring mantle in the absence of his more glamorous team-mate. One game into the new season and Bale does it again.
Sans Ronaldo and Benzema, the 27-year old started off with a bullet header inside 2 minutes of the match and rounded off with an equally impressive finish in the penultimate minute of the game to start his and Madrid’s campaign on a high note.
The Welshman was instrumental in his country’s fairytale run at the Euro 2016 and has now carried the form into the 2016/17 season.
Onwards and upwards.
#2 Asensio’s impressive pre-season was no fluke
Marco Asensio returned to Real Madrid after a mediocre loan spell at Espanyol last season. The 21-year old was named in Zidane’s pre-season tour and left quite a mark on the French honcho with his impressive performances.
Now after two games into their new campaign, Asensio continues to grow in stature.
Following a stunning strike in the UEFA Supercup 10 days ago, Asensio bagged his second goal of the season with a clinical dink that put the visitors 2-0 ahead. The Spanish youngster also troubled the Sociedad defence with his buccaneering runs and defense-splitting passes as Asensio made a resounding league debut for Real Madrid.
His pre-season displays were no fluke.
#3 Morata looks desperate to succeed
After 2 successful years at Juventus, Alvaro Morata returned to Real Madrid in a £23 million transfer and despite his best efforts, hasn’t been able to muster his best game.
The Spaniard had a decent pre-season but was underwhelming in the Ssupercup. Now in his first league game since the re-transfer, Morata showed promise with his attacking instincts and came close to scoring on a few occasions, however, couldn’t find the back of the net.
The 23-year old had a goal-laden season under Carlo Ancelotti’s first season in-charge, and Morata will desperately try to replicate that form in front of goal again.
#4 Rulli shines bright amid Sociedad wreck
Whilst Real Sociedad endured a terrible start to their season on home soil, goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was perhaps the only one from amongst the hosts to have really impressed.
The 24-year old Argentine pulled off a number of saves, especially in the second half, to keep the scoreline under check. After denying Bale and Morata in the opening 45 minutes, Rulli made a few more impressive saves when Toni Kroos, Mateo Kovacic, and James Rodriguez all came calling with fierce strikes.
Rulli was rendered absolutely helpless for the three strikes he let in, but otherwise, had a fine evening under the bar and rescued his side from a battering.
#5 Real Madrid look ready to end their title wait
It’s only one game into the season and no concrete conclusions can be drawn, but Real Madrid made their intentions known with a terrific start to their campaign.
Their performance was identical to the one they displayed during the 12-game winning streak at the end of last season and have simply continued from they left.
The youngsters on display must have left a lasting impression on Zidane after the game, whereas Bale looks hungry for more goals this season. Although there were a few jitters at the back, the quality and experience of Madrid’s defense saved their beacon.
Once the absentees return to the fold, the European champions are only going to strengthen further.
Real Madrid last won the league title back in 2012, but on this form, can end the wait for an elusive 33rd La Liga trophy this season.
