Real Madrid 5-0 Real Betis: Five Talking Points

Real Madrid brushed aside their early season jitters as they thumped the newly promoted Real Betis with five unanswered goals to clinch their first win of the season under Rafael Benitez. Having embarrassingly been held to a 0-0 draw by another promoted side Sporting Gijon on the opening day, Los Blancos desperately needed to bounce back here, especially after watching their closest rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid steal a march early in the season with narrow victories last week.However, the Whites did it, and in some style. Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez scored a brace each whereas Karim Benzema too joined the act midway to seal a comfortable 5-0 victory in the first game in front of the home crowd.Here are the 5 talking points from the lopsided affair at the Santiago Bernabeu.

#1 Gareth Bale hits the ground running

The world's most expensive player Gareth Bale bagged an impressive brace on the night to get the ball rolling in an encouraging fashion. The Welshman was the cynosure of all the wrong things last term and, from a Decima hero, was reduced to an object of derision in the eyes of the peevish Bernabeu faithful.

Naturally, the former Tottenham talisman had a point to prove this time around and what better way to do it than bagging a brace in front of them in the second game of the season itself? The 26-year old triggered the onslaught by latching on to James Rodriguez’s cross with a fine header.

He doubled his account for the campaign after just two minutes into the second half with a brilliant solo effort from long range. Bale was one of the better players going forward, punching holes in the visitors’ defence with his tenacity and pace and was an unbridled threat throughout.

Although Real Betis are one of the lowest ranked teams currently in the division and a result of such magnitude was merely a foregone conclusion for Madrid, it is nevertheless, a really bright start to the new season for the Welsh winger, who has much to do to make up for his dire outings last season.

#2 James Rodriguez continues to dazzle

James Rodriguez also scored a brace for Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s decision to splurge a staggering fortune in the pursuit of James Rodriguez last season had caught the fans and pundits alike on a hop. Moreover, his arrival meant the ousting of the dynamic Angel Di Maria and questions popped from all quarters as to whether the Colombian would really live up to the hefty price tag.

Fast forward your calendar by 12 months, and ask any fan if he's still harboring the same skepticism about the transfer. You'll probably be surprised by their answer. James silenced the naysayers with a sensational debut season in Spain that saw him amass 17 strikes in 46 appearances, more than what Bale had managed. And now, with an equally impressive double in this game, he has taken off from where he left off.

After being benched for much of the opening game last week, the former AS Monaco midfielder was thrust back in the lineup for this fixture and managed to repay gaffer Rafa Benitez’s faith. He got his first on the night from an impeccably taken free-kick from the edge of the box, when his blazing shot flew beyond the visiting goalkeeper to ricochet off the far post straight into the right corner.

James then completed his brace with a beautiful overhead in the dying minutes of the game and completed the rout for the evening. And as a matter of fact, he was also the assist maker of the opener by Bale. He appears to have subsisted his rich vein of form of last season and continues to dazzle one and all.

#3 Not a happy homecoming for Adan

Antonio Adan had spent 16 years at Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid netminder Antonio Adan returned to his old stomping ground, but in a rival shirt, and endured a night to forget. The Blancos youth product surrendered five goals in total and had a far from perfect homecoming.

After conceding to Gareth Bale with just two minutes onto the clock, Adan must have tried to recover in the game to try and prevent Real’s star-studded attack, but instead, was run ragged by the potent strike force. He was absolutely helpless when the likes of Bale, Benzema and Rodriguez charged at him.

Despite making five saves in the game, he was overpowered by the ferocity of Real’s attack. With fixtures against Real Sociedad and Valencia in the offing, Adan and Real Betis may be in for more torment in the initial weeks of the season.

#4 Danilo makes his case at both ends

Danilo impressed in both attack and defence

In a game that was embellished only by the effervescence and dynamism exuded by the Real Madrid strike force, certain credit has to be given to their defence as well. They were resolute and kept another clean sheet despite meekly conceding a penalty midway in the second half.

From the defending quartet of the home side, summer recruit Danilo, in particular, stood out. The Brazilian contributed healthily at both sides of the pitch and made a great impression of himself in front of the supporters as well as the manager.

The former Porto right-back dispatched a sublime performance at the back and hemmed Betis winger Juan Vargas in, to great effect. On the offensive front, Danilo was equally effective as he proved to be a great threat marauding down the right wing and combined with Bale very well.

Performances like this may just cement his place in the line-up and can also prove to be a vital weapon in the armoury for Real when the going gets tough.

#5 Ronaldo heads into the break disappointed

Ronaldo had 10 shots in the game but no goals

Amidst the mirth and merry in the Real Madrid camp following the emphatic win, there was an unhappy fac, disappointed at letting himself down. Cristiano Ronaldo was highly lethal in the game and had accrued 10 shots on target, but what would definitely subdue him is his inability to get on the scoresheet despite a barrage of chances.

The Portuguese ace started off the season with a blank at El Molinon last week, then had to endure the chagrin of watching his arch-nemesis from Barcelona lift the ‘Best Player of Europe’ award just days ago. And to compound his misery, he was unable to open his account here as well.

Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure in front of the goal, as he saw most of his attempts either saved or blocked by the visiting side and even had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half. The European Golden Boot winner of the last two seasons has, surprisingly, gone the first 180 minutes of the season without a goal, albiet, just like Messi.

Ronaldo now heads back to Portugal for his international commitments, but with his head hung in disappointment.

Edited by Staff Editor