Girona 1-4 Real Madrid: 5 talking points

Real Madrid claim the pole position in the league for the first time in over a year after the 4-1 drubbing of Girona at Estadi Montilivi on matchday two. Having endured the first setback here last season, it was turning out to be a deja vu for the Whites after Borja Garcia put the hosts ahead after just quarter of an hour.

But they soon found equanimity and raced ahead courtesy of two penalties. Sergio Ramos first chipped in with a delightful panenka, before Karim Benzema turned the tides in the second half. Gareth Bale soon got into the action with a cheeky finish, before the Frenchman rounded off the rout with a simple tap-in.

It's two in two for Lopetegui's side, who are now ahead of rivals Barcelona on goal difference. But there's plenty for this side to address before even thinking of going all the way in the league this time.

Here are the major talking points:

#1 Madrid's shambolic defence still unchecked

There are plenty of holes at the back for Madrid to plug

Let me cut the unsettled Lopetegui some slack and bring to the table the most pressing concern: defence (well, he knows that. So take my words with a pinch of salt). Real Madrid's perennially leaky defence was once again laid bare by a spirited Girona side and it could've been worse had it not been for the home side's profligacy or lack of a finishing touch.

Every time the Blanquivermell forayed into the box, it ensured a kamikaze-like chaos. The defence was all over the place and with no communication whatsoever. The Marcelo's flank in particular, especially in the first half, was exploited to the hilt by Portu and Pere Pons with their buccaneering runs into the area before laying some good crosses. The first goal was a perfect example of the same. Even if the ball came off Ramos, Garcia had all the space and time in the world to adjust himself and place a shot into the roof of the net.

Even if there was no goals thereafter, Girona continued to make mincemeat of the Madrid's backline with slick passes and intelligent runs. On one occasion, it was only Carvajal's intervention just on the line that prevented the hosts from doubling their lead, while striker Lozano took a heavy touch from a stone's throw distance and gave Madrid another lifeline.

One of the glaring issues to emerge out of the 4-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Supercup was the shambolic defending and acres of space left for them to exploit. Girona were the beneficiaries of the same today, but lacked the cutting edge to bury the chances. However, it's another wake-up call for Lopetegui and co.

#2 Girona's attackers in scintillating sync

Portu, Lozano and Garcia worked to devastating effect in first half — Portu, Lozano and Garcia worked to devastating effect in

Even without top scorer Christian Stuani in the starting line-up, Girona managed to punch holes in this admittedly lacklustre defense. Set out on their traditional 4-3-3, last year's tormentor Portu was deployed on the right, Lozano led from the middle while goalscorer Borja Garcia ran the show from the left.

This isn't exactly a formidable attacking line-up and a team like Real Madrid gunning for the title shouldn't have problems squelching such a mediocre frontline, but each of them were afforded space to run in between the lines and cause troubles. Portu in particular, was the creative hub of most of the chances. He made the most of Marcelo's attacking penchant to run into the gap left behind him before cutting inside and laying off for either Lozano or Garcia.

While scoring the opener, the latter was completely unmarked in the box. Nobody cared to track his runs either. So Garcia read Portu's movement well and stationed himself in the right position to dispatch the cross. Lozano appeared to bamboozle the defense by drifting out wide on numerous occasions and letting the wingers take centrestage.

The attacking interplay by the Girona forwards was on full swing during a chaotic first-half as Real Madrid were put to the sword.

#3 Real Madrid find their feet in the second-half

Given the atrocious performance during the first 45 minutes, the visitors desperately needed a team-talk during the interval and regroup for the second stanza. Both check and check, on the evidence of much-improved half. The problematic 4-2-3-1 wasn't just discarded blindly by Lopetegui, but he chose to tweak it a bit by taking off the ridiculously out-of-sorts Marcelo at the hour mark and introduce Varane with Nacho shunting out to the left.

This definitely made them defensively more sound and allowed them to get control on the ball and move forward. With Benzema having already put the side ahead with another penalty, Los Blancos now attained complete supremacy of the game. They held the ball high up the field as the pressing got more rigorous than ever. With Benzema dropping back in between the lines and Isco pushing ahead, it resembled an attacking triangle that was easy on the eye.

His hawk eye-like vision saw him then release Bale with a defence-splitting pass and the Welshman put the game beyond doubt. By now, the Girondists had the stuffing knocked out of them and ended up conceding another one just 10 minutes from time. The Whites found their feet in the second half to paper over the cracks shown in the first, but need to play like this throughout the course of 90 minutes to avoid embarrassments against bigger oppositions.

#4 More VAR gaffe...by the officials

Benzema looked to be in an offside position

We've already seen during the World Cup how the Video Assistance Referee technology can influence the proceedings in a match. Incidents that can't be judged after a glance can be reviewed again and make the right decision. So the VAR, which is making its debut in Spanish football this term, was called into question again today for Benzema's late strike.

The Frenchman was in an offside position when Bale crossed for him and even though he was onside when he made the first touch and leathered it into the bottom corner, it was quiet a controversial goal. Incidents like this have been ruled out offside in the past: In a Champions League clash versus Bayern Munich in 2017, Sergio Ramos goal didn't stand as he was found to be offside initially while a freekick was being played, even though he headed it home from an onside position only.

The same thing had happened to Cristiano Ronaldo a few months earlier at the Euros in the group game against Austria as his headed effort too, was disallowed after being in an offside position when the ball was being played even though he made contact with it when perfectly onside.

So to go by the past precedents, this goal shouldn't have been allowed to stand. And unlike the aforementioned occasions, we also had a VAR installed this time around to review it properly. Still the goal stood, but referees need to be more careful while reviewing something like this.

#5 Gareth Bale is taking over the talismanic mantle

I know it's just two games into the new league campaign and it's hard to deduce anything at this point in time. But Gareth Bale has been a different beast ever since La Liga commenced and had another telling contribution in today's triumph with a goal and an assist.

The Welshman showed an incredible burst of pace when he beat his marker and latched on to Isco's beautiful pass before the sumptuous finish beyond David Soria. That was second league goal having also been on target in the 2-0 opening day victory over Getafe too. If you thought his job for the day was done, then Bale had other ideas. A neat one-two with Modric later, he raced through towards the byline and squared off for Benzema to apply the finishing touches.

So in both games now, Bale has had his fingerprints over it. And today, besides the goal and the assist, he also completed 3 dribbles and made 3 key passes. It's a sign of the player getting back to his best again. The 29-year old is thriving in the void left by Ronaldo and his rich vein of form suggests he's going to have a huge say in Madrid's fortunes this term.