Real Madrid hammered Cultural Leonesa 7-1 in the first leg of their Round-of-32 tie in the Copa del Rey. It was a positive night for Madrid’s first King’s Cup game of the season, with Alvaro Morata and Marco Asensio both netting braces, while Nacho and Mariano also were on the scoresheet for Madrid’s after Gianni’s own goal began the scoring for the visitors. Substitute Benja Martinez scored a late consolation for Cultural Leonesa.
Los Blancos take 6 away goals to the second leg of this tie to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu on the 21st of December, due to their FIFA Club World Cup commitments.
Here are 5 talking points from the game:
#1 No BBC, No Problem
It was hardly a surprise when Zinedine Zidane did not name Real Madrid’s BBC trio of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup. They have been struggling of late – Cristiano Ronaldo, in particular, who’s enduring his worst ever spelll of goal-scoring form in a Los Blancos shirt.
It’s times like these when you need your squad to step up, and my word, did Real Madrid’s backup choices ever step up. Marco Asensio, Alvaro Morata and Lucas Vazquez tormented their opponents throughout the night. While one can argue that this ‘only’ was a Segunda B side, you can only defeat what’s put in front of you.
Asensio and Morata, in particular, have made a great case to start Real Madrid’s next La Liga match – an option Zidane might consider, so as to withdraw Ronaldo from the line of fire. Morata and Asensio have scored 12 goals this season, the same amount as Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema put together.
#2 The scoreline was harsh on Cultural Leonesa
Not much was expected of Cultural Leonesa going into the game – this was a side that regularly hovered between the Tercera and Segunda B, the fourth and third tiers of Spanish football. However, the 7-1 scoreline was not indicative of the amout of trouble the hosts caused their much more illustrious visitors.
Perhaps Cultural Leones manager Rubén De la Barrera Fernández was a bit naive in not opting to park the bus, but he deserves credit for the way the hosts attacked right from the off. The likes of Alex Gallar, Mario Ortiz and Julen Colinas were bright throughout the night, constantly threating the Real Madrid defence, with Gallar in particular, deserving of a goal.
As it was, the hosts did earn their consolation goal late in the game to provide some cheer to the 13000 people that packed the Estadio Reino de Leon, when Benja Martinez volleyed the ball perfectedly into the bottom corner six minutes from time. Do the same at the Santiago Bernabeu, and fans of this little side will truly lose their marbles.
#3 Marco Asensio is worth the hype
Given how prone the media surrounding Real Madrid is to hyperbole, it’s almost ironic how the Madrid media circus keep trying to downplay the accomplishments of Marco Asensio. Yes, the Spaniard is young and has a fair way to go, but there’s a reason Zinedine Zidane is such a fan of the Real Madrid player.
Indeed, Asensio has already notched up a record that the likes of Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane himself, have failed to achieve. The 20 year old is the only La Liga player, ever, to score in each of his debuts in La Liga, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and now the Copa del Rey.
Also Read : 5 things to know about Real Madrid wonderkid Marco Asensio
It wasn’t a surprise then when after the game Zidane spoke about extending the contract of Asensio, saying “We want to keep this team as it is very complete and we are trying to continue with this [squad] for many more years to come.”
#4 Real Madrid fail to keep a clean sheet yet again, but are still unbeaten
The perfect night for Real Madrid was ruined by a goal six munites from time by Cultural Leonesa substitute Benja Martinez. In the grand scheme of things, a consolation goal in a 7-1 rout barely deserves any mention, but Zinedine Zidane would do well to take heed to this warning sign.
With Toni Kroos forced into action despite badly needing a rest as the only remotely defensive midifelder Real Madrid have, it was no surprise to see the ease with which the hosts bypassed the midfield to threaten Real Madrid’s backline time and time again. Casemiro cannot return soon enough for Los Blancos, but they have to find another internal solution to this problem.
Real Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 8 games, last earning a shutout against RCD Espanyol on 19th September in a 2-0 away win in La Liga. Yet, strangely, this win extended Real Madrid’s run of being unbeaten in all competitions to 25 games, now remaining the only team among the 98 clubs of Europe’s top 5 leagues to remain unbeaten this season.
#5 Nacho’s goal was Puskas-worthy
Given how unceremoniously Real Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey last season, the likes of Mariano, Fabio Coentrao and even Isco and James Radriguez can be grateful for the chance that the competition offers to force themselves into Zidane’s first team plans. None moreso, than Nacho
I won’t even bother to describe the goal that left James Rodriguez wide-eyed in disbelief. Just look at it:
Speaking after the game, Zidane gushed about that goal, claiming it was even better that his famous strike in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final. He said, “What Nacho did is not normal. I'm happy for him. It's a goal that will go down in history. It is better than mine from 'La Novena' [Madrid's ninth Champions League title triumph].”
It capped off a wonderful night for Madrid’s goalscorers, with Mariano becoming the 18th different player to score for Madrid this season, while Coentrao remains the only defender in the squad not to have scored.
