Granada 1-2 Real Madrid : 5 talking points

Real Madrid's Modric scored a late winner to earn all three pointsA Luka Modric thunderbolt saved Real Madrid's blushes as they laboured to a 2-1 victory against relegation candidates Granada late on Sunday evening.Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Los Blancos at the half hour mark after he turned in a Dani Carvajal cross. Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes was sent into absolute delirium when substitute Youssef El-Arabi equalised for Granada barely seconds after coming on as a substitute.But Real Madrid undeservedly ended up snatching all three points, when Luka Modric – who gave the ball away for Granada’s equaliser thanks to some intervention by the referee – redeemed himself with a stunning strike in the top corner 6 minutes from time. The result keeps Real Madrid four points off leaders Barcelona (having played a game more), whereas Granada remain on 19th position, two points off safety.We analyse the 5 talking points that shaped up a night of eventual heartbreak for Granada:

#1 Real Madrid still struggling away from the Bernabeu

Sunday’s victory was Real Madrid’s first in 4 attempts away from the Santiago Bernabeu

Though Real Madrid keep racking up the goals and points at the Bernabeu, it does not make up for their pathetic displays away from home. Their victory at the Nuevo Los Carmenes was their first since winning at Eibar on 29th November, and even that – many would argue – was undeserved against some spirited Granada defending.

The hostile reception they receive when they set foot on away territory definitely affects their performances from back to front. A series of good opportunities missed by Cristiano Ronaldo (who failed to get a shot on target in 90 minutes) and an inability to comprehensively split open a relegation-threatened defence were the key reasons for a below-par performance.

Zinedine Zidane knows that time is running out as far as the La Liga title race is concerned. He must find a way to inspire his side to display the same ruthlessness on away soil as they do at the Bernabeu.

#2 Granada\'s loss of concentration proves costly

Karim Benzema was left unmarked as he tapped in to give Real Madrid the lead

When a team is fighting relegation, it is more important not to lose than to win. In order to ensure that, the team’s defensive discipline needs to be spot-on. Granada, unfortunately, paid the price for switching off in the 30th minute when they left Karim Benzema completely unmarked from 6 yards to tap-in from a low Dani Carvajal cross.

Manager, Jose Sandoval, was visibly in disbelief at the touchline on the nature of the concession of the goal. To give a team of the calibre of Real Madrid and a player like Karim Benzema that much freedom in the penalty area is criminal defending. Although they improved since, the goal was already conceded and the game looked to have gone away from them just from a single moment of concentration lapse.

#3 Granada\'s goalkeeper keeps them in the hunt

Jesús Fernández was impeccable in goal

When a team’s defence gets split up time and time again, they rely on their goalkeeper to bail them out. Just ask Manchester United. And Granada. It was a memorable night for Jesús Fernández in between the sticks, who saved brilliantly from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema early in the second half to keep the scorecard down and give his team some respite from a series of belligerent Real Madrid attacks.

His brilliance paid immediate dividends when Granada managed to find an equaliser at the hour mark from Youssef El-Arabi’s first touch of the game – slotting past Keylor Navas to cancel out Benzema’s opener. How invaluable a good goalkeeper is to any squad.

#4 Get out of the way, referee!

el-Arabi’s equaliser was preceded by the referee obstructing Modric’s run

Granada’s equaliser – though deserved – can actually be written down as a lucky break thanks to some assistance from the referee, Jesús Gil Manzano. His intervention seemed to dispossess Luka Modric by impeding his path. The ball was quickly pounced upon by Ruben Rochina, who was now rushing at a Real Madrid defence desperate to adjust back to position following the unfortunate switch in possession. He fed substitute el-Arabi on the right, who calmly side-footed under a diving Keylor Navas with his first touch of the game and stun Real Madrid.

Madrid’s frustration at the referee was clearly evident as they nearly let go of 3 points, but for Modric’s thunderbolt late on. An ‘oops’ moment for the referee, but he will be relieved that it ultimately didn’t affect the result of the game.

#5 Cristiano Ronaldo fails to score away from home - again

Ronaldo failed to find the target last night

Real Madrid’s worries away from home have not been helped by 3-time Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s struggles in front of goal. He hasn’t scored away from the Bernabeu since 21 November and hasn’t scored in open play since a 3-1 victory at Celta Vigo on 24 October. He failed to even get a shot on target last night.

His barren run is very unlike a player who backs himself to perform at the highest level, irrespective of the opposition. If Zinedine Zidane needs his side to engineer that winning mentality on away territory, his star player needs to step up a notch and find a way to terrify defences away from home with the same guile as he does at Madrid.